Columbia  5Bntt)e«tlp 

tntl)fCttpoflmgork 

THE  LIBRARIES 


THE  ECCENTRIC  PREACHER:  OR 


A    SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF    THE    CELEBRATED 


LORENZO    DOW, 


ABRIDGED    FROM  HIS  JOURNAL  ;     AND    CONTAINING    THE 
MOST  INTERESTING  FACTS  IN  HIS  EXPERIENCE. 


ALSO,    AN     ABRIDGEMENT     OF     HIS     CELEBRATED 


CHAIN! 


HIS  CURIOUS  THOUGHTS  ON  MATRIMONY! 


Cornell: 

E.    A.    RICE    &    CO 
1841. 


/J  I 


POWER  PRESS  OF   L.  HU>'TRESS,    LOWELL. 


LO 

cn 


CO 


y  PREFACE. 

The  design  of  the  followuig  pages  is  to  present 
the  curious  public  with  a  connected  and  intelli- 
gible account  of  the  early  history,  the  travels  and 
the  eccentricities  of  that  theoloojical  '  knight  er- 
rant,'  Lorenzo  Dow.  His  journal,  of  which  this 
work  is  an  abridgement,  is  both  too  bulky  and 
too  expensive,  for  general  reading.  It  is  more- 
over crowded  with  much  unnecessary  detail  ;  of 
no  interest  whatever  to  the  great  mass  of  the 
reading  public.  These  unimportant  incidents 
are  here  omitted,  while  every  fact  necessary  to 
illustrate  his  character,  and  every  transaction 
w^iich  is  either  curious,  remarkable  or  profitable, 
is  retained. 

The  language  of  Lorenzo  has  been  employed 
wherever  possible,excepting  that  it  has  been  care- 
fully corrected  and  occasionally  abridged  of  a 
redundant  phrase,  without  changing  the  meaning 
of  the  writer.  The  sense  of  the  original  jour- 
nal has  been  no  where  designedly  mutilated. 

Where  events  are  hastily  passed  over,  the 
journal   has  been    condensed  by   the   Editor's 


IV  PREFACE. 

hand,  who  has,  even  here,  permitted  Mr.  Dow 
to  be  his  own  biographer ;  only,  now  and  then 
hazarding  a  remark  or  an  opinion  when  it  seem- 
ed wanting  to  guide  the  thoughts  and  reflections 
of  the  reader. 

To  those  who,  on  seeing  a  hfe  of  Lorenzo 
Dow,  will  complain  of  the  absence  of  my  par- 
ticular account  of  his  travels  after  1816,  we 
simply  answer :  No  authentic  records  are  extant 
excepting  his  journals  ;  and  these  could  not  be 
procured  on  any  terms  favorable  to  their  publi- 
cation. Many  stories  of  Mr.  Dow  are  floating 
in  the  public  mind,  which  might  have  been  col- 
lected ;  but  it  was  thought  best  not  to  attempt 
their  collection,  as  amidst  such  a  traditionary 
chaos  it  would  be  utterly  impossible  to  find  the 
truth.  Here  the  work  is  confined  to  an  abridge- 
ment of  what  is  known. 

Should    this   little   book   afford    an    evenincr's 

o 

gratification  to  those  who  have  seen  Mr.  Dow ; 
should  it  satisfy  the  curiosity  of  those  who  have 
heard  of  his  wanderings,  and  in  the  least  degree 
subserve  to  the  promotion  of  the  common  inter- 
ests of  MAN,  the  Editor  of  these  pages  will  not 
deem  his  labor  wholly  lost. 
January  1,  1841. 


CONTENTS  OF  THE  ECCENTRIC  PREACHER. 

CHAPTER    I. 

Lorenzo's  birth,  parentage  and  education — Early  relig- 
ious impressions — The  lottery  prize — An  affliction — 
A  dream — Awakening — Tempted  to  commit  suicide 
— First  acquaintance  with  the  Methodists — Hope 
Hull — His  conversion — Subsequent  trials. 

CHAPTER    II. 

Lorenzo's  impressions  about  preaching- — Declining 
health— Offers  his  first  social  prayer — Begins  to  ex- 
hort— more  mental  trials — A  frightful  dream — Dream 
of  the  beautiful  stalk — Of  a  lost  soul — He  preaches  at 

.  various  places — Is  nearly  frozen  to  death — Opposition 
— is  equipped  for  travelling  by  his  uncle — Visits  R. 
Island  and  Massachusetts — Preaches  on  Warren  Cir- 
cuit— His  dismission — His  grief — Visits  New  Hamp- 
shire— Was  rejected  by  the  Conference — Preaches  on 
Orange  Circuit — Travels  and  labors  in  New  Hamp- 
shire— Opposition — Temptations — Labors  successful- 
ly— Joins  the  Methodist  Conference,  but  is  refused  a 
place  on  the  minutes — His  poverty — Providential  sup- 
ply— Preaches  in  New  York — Great  excitements — 
Pays  a  woman  for  praying— A  rash  promise — A  pow- 
erful Quarterly  meeting — The  escape — Dangerous 
illness. 

CHAPTER    III. 

Success  in  various  places — A  rash  youth — Preaches 
from  the  word  of  the  devil — Anecdotes — His  health 
fails  him — His  visit  to  his  native  town — Determines 
to  go  to  Ireland — Voyage  to  Quebec — Persecution  on 
ship-board— The  press  gang — Unexpected  friends — 
Sails  from  Quebec — The  voyage — Arrival  in  Ireland 
— His  reception  in  Dublin — Opposition — Preaches  to 


VI  CONTENTS. 

the  soldiers — The  last  shilling — Visits  Belfast  and 
Ijarne — Preaches  in  several  villages — The  magistrate 
— Returns  to  Dublin — Boisterous  passage — His  labors 
in  adjoining  towns — Interview  with  Dr.  Coke — Re- 
marks. 

CHAPTER    IV. 

Lorenzo  taken  very  sick — A  new  friend — Preaches  in 
Dublin — Is  offered  a  razor  to  take  off  his  beard — Ex- 
tensive travels  in  Ireland — Another  magisterial  exam- 
ination— Visits  Cork — Discouragements — Sells  his 
watch — Returns  to  Dublin — The  letter — Its  reception 
— He  warns  all  Dublin  by  printed  handbills — Another 
preaching  excursion — Leaves  Ireland — Reception  in 
America — Is  appointed  to  Dutchess  circuit — Opposi- 
tion and  success — Removal — Quits  his  circuit — Sails 
to  Savannah — Reception — Andrew,  the  black  preach- 
er— Further  travels — The  unfinished  meeting-house — 
Returns  to  New  York — Remarks. 

CHAPTER    V. 

Another  severe  illness — Goes  to  Connecticut — Meets 
with  Calvin  Wooster — Receives  a  great  blessing — 
Travels  extensively — Meets  with  the  Bishops — Visits 
New  York  city — Destitution — A  friend — A  long  tour 
in  the  North — Starts  for  Georgia  with  iicent>j-Jive  cents 
in  his  purse — Travels  in  the  South — Journey  to  Natch- 
ez— x'\ttack  from  Indians — Escape — His  wretched  ap- 
pearance— Is  recommended  by  the  Governor  of  Geor- 
gia— The  jerks  described — His  opinion  of  the  jerks — 
Visits  Virginia — Preaches  on  the  pillory — His  moth- 
er's death — Returns  to  New^  England — Visits  Boston 
and  vicinity — Puts  his  journal  to  press — Camp-meet- 
ing at  Weston — Excitement — Remarks. 

CHAPTER    VI. 

Mr  Dow's  remarks  on  a  happy  pair  in  Ireland — On  mar- 
riage in  general — Meets  Avith  "Peggy" — His  court- 
ship— Absence — Return — Courtship  renewed  —  His 
marriage. 

CHAPTER    VII. 

Another  Southern  tour — More  about  the  jerks — Visit 


CONTENTS. 


Natchez — The  Devil  outwitted — Revival  nt  a  Crxmp- 
meeting- — Narrow  escape — A  dream  —  Discourage- 
ments— The  Local  preacher's  daughter — Returns 4:o 
Western — Another  Cauj])-nieeting— Visits  Boston,  Sa- 
lem and  vicinity — Tour  through  New-Hampshire  and 
Vermont,  and  return. 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

A  journey  to  North  Carolina  and  return — Change  in  the 
spirit  of  his  Journal — Anecdote — Old  Sam's  Monu- 
ment— Bob  Sample — Embarks  with  Mrs  Dow  for 
England — Lands  in  Liverpool — Discouraging"  recep- 
tion— Friends  raised  up — Preaches  in  Zion's  Chapel — • 
Is  repulsed  by  the  V/esleyans — Visits  London — Man- 
chester— Dr  Adam  Clarke — Views  of  the  Wesioyans 
respecting  Mr  Dow — Passage  to  Dublin — A  joyful 
Meeting" — Tour  in  the  North  of  England — Returns  to 
Ireland — Sham  Worship— A  Sod  Chapel  — Dublin 
Mobs — Birth  of  a  daughter — IMore  mobs — Mr  and 
Mrs  Dow  visit  Liverpool — The  Deist — The  Calvinist 
discovered — Extreme  sickness  of  Mrs  Dow — Another 
Irish  tour — Death  of  his  child — Mr  Averiirs  history — 
Mr  Dow's  reflections  on  church  music — On  formal 
religion — Impressions. 

CH-IPTEP.,    IX. 

Preparations  for  return  to  America — Difficultif^ — Irish 
Emigrants — Arrival  at  New  Bedford — A  to;n-  to  Vir- 
ginia and  return  to  Connecticut — Pecuniary  ditncul- 
ties — Journey  to  the  South — A  hut  in  a  Mississippi 
swamp — A  journey  through  the  woods — Arrival  in 
Virginia — Mrs  Dow's  sickness — A  lawyer's  insult — 
Preaches  in  Washington — Puts  his  works  to  press — • 
Visits  Connecticut — A  friend's  queries — Another  tour 
to  Natchez — Close  of  his  journal — Remarks — Plis 
opposition  to  Masonry,  Catholicism  and  Methodism — 
Remarks — His  death. 


LORENZO  DOW, 

OR  THE  ECCENTRIC  PREACHER. 


CHAPTER  I. 

FROxM  HIS  BIRTH  TO  HIS  CONVERSlOrf. 

Lorenzo  Dow,  commonly  known  as  "crazy  Dow,** 
was  born  in  Coventry,  Tolland  County,  Connecticut,  on 
the  16th  of  October,  1777.  His  parents  were  of  English 
descent.  They  had  a  son  and  four  daughters,  beside 
Lorenzo,  who  was  the  youngest  but  one  of  the  family. 
They  were  carefully  attentive  to  both  the  secular  and 
religious  education  of  their  children. 

Lorenzo's  mind  appears  to  have  been  under  the  influ- 
ence of  strong  religious  impressions  from  his  earliest 
childhood,  as  will  appear  from  the  following  extract  from 
his  journal : 

"  When  I  was  between  three  and  four  years  old,  one 
day,  whilst  I  was  at  play  with  my  companions,  I  sudden- 
ly fell  into  a  reverie  about  God  and  those  places  called 
heaven  and  hell,  wliich  I  heard  people  converse  about, 
so  that  I  forgot  my  play ;  which  my  companion  observ- 
ing, desired  to  know  the  cause:  I  asked  him  if" ever  he 
said  his  prayers,  night  or  morning  ;  to  which  he  replied 
no — then,  said  I,  you  are  wicked,  and  I  will  not  play 
with  you ;  so  I  quit  his  company  and  went  into  the 
house." 

In  this  brief  extract  we  see  the  incipient  beginnings 
of  that  boldness  and  energy  of  reproof  that  afterward! 
1 


10  THE  ECCENTRIC  PREACHER:     OR 

characterized  his  public  ministrations  and  private  labors, 
and  which  probably  was  the  secret  of  the  attention  he 
every  where  excited. 

As  an  instance  of  the  native  eccentricity  of  his  mind, 
the  following  incident  may  be  useful.  He  was  scarcely 
twelve  years  of  age,  and  feeling  anxious  to  know  if  God 
woald  answer  prayer,  as  in  primitive  days,  he  promised 
to  serve  him  provided  he  would  enable  him  to  gain  the 
highest  prize  in  a  small  tottery  then  about  to  be  decided 
in  the  place.  He  gained  the  prize,  nine  shillings ! 
broke  his  promise,  and  was  very  uneasy  for  several 
ireeks. 

His  constitution  was  severely  shaken  by  a  painful 
gicknc.?s,  while  a  boy,  occasioned  by  overheating  him- 
self and  drmking  cold  milk  and  water;  from  the  effects 
of  this  early  affliction  he  never  wholly  recovered. 

Lorenzo  seems  to  have  been  a  great  believer  in 
drea:r-s,,  from  an  early  period.  While  suiiering  under 
this  sickness,  which  took  an  asthmatical  turn,  he  dream- 
ed that  he  saw  the  prophet  Nathan  addressing  a  large 
assembly  of  people.  Inquiring  how  long  he  should  live, 
the  prophet  replied,  "  Until  you  are  twenty-one."  This 
dream  occasioned  him  much  anxiety  in  his  mind. 

He  describes  his  awakening  in  the  following  nervous 
manner.  "  When  past  the  age  of  thirteen  years  it  pleas- 
ed God  to  av.aken  my  mind  by  a  dream  of  the  night, 
which  was,  that  an  old  man  came  to  me  at  mid-day  hav- 
ing a  staff  in  his  hand,  and  said,  "  Do  you  pray  ?"  I  told 
him,  "  No."  Said,  he,  "  you  must,"  and  then  he  went 
away ;  he  had  not  been  long  gone  before  he  returned, 
and  said  again,  "Do  you  i^ray" .?  I  again  said,  "no:" 
after  his  departure,  I  went  out  of  doors  and  was  taken 
up  by  a  whirlwind  and  carried  above  the  skies ;  at 
length  I  discovered,  across  a  gulph,  as  it  were,  through 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  11 

a  mist  of  darkness,  a  glorions  place  in  which  was  a 
throne  of  ivory  overlaid  with  gold,  and  God  sitting  upon 
it  and  Jesus  Christ  at  his  right  hand,  and  angels  and 
glorified  spirits,  celebrating  praise.  Oh!  the  joyful  mu- 
sic !  I  thought  the  angel  Gabriel  came  to  the  edge  of 
Heaven,  holding  a  golden  trumpet  in  his  right  hand,  and 
cried  to  me  with  a  mighty  voice  to  know  if  I  desired  to 
come  there.  I  told  him  I  did.  Said  he,  "You  must  go 
back  to  yonder  world,  and  if  you  will  be  faithful  to  God 
you  shall  come  here  in  the  end." 

"With  reluctance  I  left  the  beautiful  sight  and  came 
back  to  the  earth  again  ;  and  then  I  thought  the  old  man 
came  to  me  the  third  time  and  asked  me  if  I  had  pray- 
ed ?  I  told  him  I  had.  Then,  said  he,  "Be  faithful,  and 
I  will  com.e  and  let  you  know  again." 

This  singular  dream  appears  to  have  had  a  powerful 
effect  upon  his  mind.  He  felt  himself  a  sinner,  he  wept, 
he  made  solemn  promises  of  amendment,  and  commen- 
ced secret  prayer  at  once.  His  old,  idl^  companions 
and  his  wicked  practices  were  at  once  forsaken,  and  he 
became  an  altered  youth.  But  haying  none  to  give  him 
proper  instruction  he  mourned,  with  much  grief  for  sev- 
eral months.  /'  y   ' 

The  doctrines  of  election  and  predestination  troubled 
him  exceedingly;  now,  he  thought  all  his  labors  vain, 
and  anon,  he  trembled  lest  he  were  reprobated  :  so  vio- 
lent was  the  effect  of  these  reflections  that  he  once  de- 
termined on  suicide,  and  actually  retired  with  a  loaded 
gun  to  the  silence  of  the  forest  to  blow  his  brains  out. — 
He  thus  describes  the  operations  of  his  mind  while  there. 
*' As  I  was  about  to  put  my  intention  into  execution  a 
sudden  thought  darted  into  my  mind, — "  Stop  and  con- 
sider what  you  are  about ;  if  you  end  your  life,  you  are 
undone  for  ever :  but  if  you  omit  it  a  few  days  longer 


12         THE  ECCENTRIC  PREACHER:  OR 

somethinnf  may  turn  up  in  your  favor ;"  this  was  attend- 
ed with  a  small  degree  of  hope  that  if  I  waited  a  little 
while  It  should  not  be  altogether  in  vain ;  and  I  thought 
I  felt  thankful  that  God  prevented  me  from  sending  my 
soul  to  everlasting  misery." 

At  this  period  of  his  experience  he  became  acquaint- 
ed with  the  Methodists,  who  were  just  beginning  to  be 
known  in  the  western  sections  of  New  England.  Hope 
Hull  had  been  invited  to  preach  in  the  neighborhood; 
and  under  his  sermon  Lorenzo  was  so  alarmed,  that  he 
well  nigh  fell  from  his  seat.  He  was  now  thoroughly 
awakened ;  sleep  forsook  his  eyes,  and  with  all  his  en- 
ergies he  sought  the  salvation  of  his  soul. 

His  conversion,  like  all  other  parts  of  his  experience, 
is  characteristic  of  himself.  He  had  been  to  a  meeting 
where  his  impressions  were  very  powerful,  and  after 
the  meeting  he  became  so  alarmed  that  he  feared  the 
Devil  would  carry  him  away  :  under  the  influence  of 
this  superstitious  fear,  he  dared  not  go  home  alone.  A 
friend  accompanied  him,  and  he  retired  to  his  chamber 
where  he  dared  not  sleep  for  fear  of  awaking  in  an  end- 
less hell.  We  give  his  own  account  of  his  feelings  on 
that  memorable  night.  "I  strove  to  plead  with  God  for 
mercy,  for  several  hours,  as  a  man  would  plead  for  his 
life ;  until,  at  length,  weary  in  body,  as  the  night  was 
far  spent,  I  fell  into  a  slumber  and  dreamed  that  two 
devils  entered  the  room,  each  with  a  chain  in  his  hand ; 
they  laid  hold  on  me,  one  at  my  head,  the  other  at  my 
feet,  and  bound  me  fast,  and  breaking  out  the  window- 
carried  me  a  distance  from  the  house  and  laid  me  on  a 
spot  of  ice,  and  whilst  the  weaker  devil  flew  off  in 
flames  of  fire,  the  stronger  one  set  out  to  drag  me  down 
to  hell.  When  I  got  within  sight  of  hell,  to  see  the  blue 
blazes  ascending  and  to  hear  the  screeches  and  groans 


13 

of  devils  and  damned  spirits  jfave  me  such  a  shock  as  I 
cannot  describe.  I  thotight,  I  will  struggle  and  strive 
to  break  these  chains;  and  if  I  can  and  get  away  it  will 
be  g-ain  ;  and  if  I  cannot  there  will  be  nothing  lost.  In 
my  struggle  I  awaked,  and  oh !  how  glad  was  I  that  it 
was  only  a  dream.  I  again  strove  to  lift  up  my  heart  to 
God  for  mercy — and  these  words  struck  my  mind  :  '  la 
that  day  there  shall  a  fountain  be  opened  to  the  house 
of  David,  and  to  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  for  sin 
and  for  uncleanness.'  A  thought  darted  into  my  mind 
that  the  fountain  was  Christ  ;  and  if  it  were  so  deep 
and  wide  that  the  wicked  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  could 
wash  and  be  clean,  why  not  the  whole  world  ?  Why 
not  deep  enough  for  me  ?  Here  hope  sprung  up  ;  there 
was  a  Saviour  offered  to  all  instead  of  a  certain  few  ; 
and  if  so,  possibly  there  might  be  mercy  yet  for  me  ;  but 
these  words  followed—'  Woe  to  them  that  are  at  ease  in 
Zion.'  Here  discouragements  arose.  I  thought  myself 
to  be  the  unprofitable  servant,  who  had  wrapped  his  tal- 
ent in  the  napkin,  and  buried  it  m  the  earth.  I  had  not 
on  the  wedding  garment,  and  was  unprepared  to  meet 
God.  I  thought  I  heard  the  voice  of  God's  justice  say- 
ing, '  Take  the  unprofitable  servant  and  cast  him  into 
utter  darkness.'  I  put  my  hands  together  and  eried  in 
my  heart,  'the  time  has  been  when  I  might  have  had  re- 
ligion;  but  novr  it  is  too  late;  mercy's  gate  is  shut 
against  me,  and  my  condemnation  forever  sealed.  Lord, 
I  give  up;  I  submit;  I  yield;  I  yield:  if  there  be  mer- 
cy in  heaven  for  me,  let  me  know  it ;  and  if  not,  let  me 
go  down  to  hell  and  know  the  worst  of  my  case.'  As 
tliese  words  flowed  from  my  heart,  I  saw  the  Mediator 
step  in,  as  it  were,  between  the  Father's  justice  and  my 
soul,  and  these  words  were  applied  to  my  mind  with 


14         THE  ECCENTRIC  preacher:  OR 

great  power:  *Son,  thy  sins  which  are  many  are  forgiv- 
en thee;  tiiy  faith  hath  saved  thee:  go  in  peace.' 

"  The  burden  of  sin  and  guilt  and  the  fear  of  hell 
vanished  as  perceptibly  as  an  hundred  pounds  weight 
falling  from  a  man's  shoulder;  my  soul  flowed  out  in 
love  to  God,  to  his  ways,  and  to  his  people  ;  yea  and  to 
ALL  mankind." 

How  strong !  how  simple !  how  natural  is  this  relation 
of  his  christian  experience.  Of  its  genuineness  none 
can  doubt.  Nor  was  it  without  its  immediate  fruits.  At 
daylight  he  arose  and  hurried  to  his  pious  friends  and 
told  them  the  story  of  tlie  Saviour's  love  to  his  soul  with 
a  gushing  heart  and  a  flowing  tongue.  He  wanted,  to 
use  his  own  language,  "a  thousand  tongues  and  twice 
ten  thousand  at  the  end  of  them"  to  praise  God  for  what 
he  had  done  for  his  soul. 

Like  all  young  converts,  he  had  trials.  Some  old 
christians  perplexed  him  by  the  cold,  freezing  questions 
of '  How  do  you  know  you  are  converted  ?  How  do  you 
know  you  are  not  deceived  ?'  These  ill-timed  questions 
roused  unbelief  to  the  conflict  and  he  lost  sight  of  his 
beloved.  In  this  moment  of  darkness  he  set  out  towards 
the  residence  of  some  converts,  when  he  says,  "  before  I 
got  to  the  house  I  met  my  beloved  on  the  way  ;  he  was 
the  chiefest  among  ten  thousand  and  the  altogether  love- 
ly. And  I  went  home  happy  in  the  Redeemer's  love.'* 
How  many  lambs  of  the  flock  of  Christ,  like  Lorenzo, 
are  baffled  and  discouraged  by  the  questions  of  doubt 
BO  often  raised  by  old,  lukewarm  professors.who  imagine 
that  because  they  live  in  a  fog,  every  one  else  must,  and 
that  living  in  a  cloud  is  an  evidence  of  true  christian 
experience.  Alas !  for  such  professors ;  how  many  of 
them  will  die  and  perish  in  a  cloud  of  doubt. 

Satisfied  at  length  with  his  experience  Lorenzo,  with 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  15 

twelve  others,  united  himself  in  religious  bonds  with  the 
Methodists  of  his  neighborhood. 

Such  was  the  early  experience  of  the  eccentric  Lo- 
renzo; an  experience  which,  aside  from  its  peculiari- 
ties, we  may  all  safely  emulate.  May  the  converting 
grace  of  the  Almighty  touch  tlie  heart  of  the  impenitent 
reader! 


CHAPTER  n. 
Lorenzo's  call  to  preach  the  gospel — his  first 

IMPRESSIONS,  &e. 

The-operatioTss  of  Mr.  Dow's  mind  upon  the  important 
subject  of  preaching  the  gospel  were  as  strong  and  vio- 
lent as  upon  every  other  topic.  He  seems  to  have  had 
a  mental  constitution  excessively  susceptible  to  every 
spiritual  impression ;  hence,  he  was  borne  irresistibly 
along  by  every  current  of  serious  thougiit  that  passed 
through  his  mind.  As  it  will  be  impossible  to  give  so 
striking  a  view  of  his  feelings  in  our  o»vn  language,  as 
he  has  given  in  his  journal,  we  shall  make  such  extracts 
from  it  as  will  give  the  reader  a  pretty  clear  idea  of  the 
nature  of  the  mental  operations  and  struggles  that  urg- 
ed him  to  the  work  of  the  ministry. 

These  struggles  commenced  shortly  after  his  conver- 
sion. Their  cemmencement  is  thus  described  in  hie 
journal. 

"One  day,  being  alone  in  a  solitary  place,  these  words 
were  fiuddeialy   impressed  upon  my  mind:  'Go  ye  into 


16  THE  ECCE^JTRIC  preacher:    OR 

all  the  world  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature. 
I  instantly  spoke  out.  Lord !  I  am  a  child,  I  cannot  go ; 
I  cannot  preach.  These  words  followed  in  my  mind, — 
*  Arise  and  go  for  I  have  sent  you.'  I  said,  send  by  whom 
thou  wilt  send,  only  not  by  me,  for  I  am  an  ignorant,  il- 
literate youth,  not  qualified  for  the  important  task  :  The 
reply  was — 'What  God  hath  cleansed  call  not  thou 
common.  I  then  resisted  the  impression  as  a  tempta- 
tion of  the  Devil;  and  then  my  Saviour  withdrew  from 
me  the  light  of  his  countenance  ;  until  at  length  I  dared 
not  believe  that  God  had  called  me  to  preach  for  fear 
of  being  deceived;  and  durst  not  disbelieve  it,  for  fear 
of  grieving  the  Spirit  of  God:  thus  I  halted  between 
two  opinions." 

These  exercises  continued  to  perplex  him  for  several 
months,  during  which  time  his  trials  were  extremely  se-  . 
vere.  His  health  also  declined  and  at  one  period  he 
was  looked  upon  by  his  friends  as  the  victim  of  a  rapid 
consumption.  He  unbosomed  his  feelings  to  his  rela- 
tions upon  the  subject  of  preaching ;  but  there  he  met 
with  the  most  positive  and  decided  discouragement; 
and  he  tried  to  dismiss  all  thoughts  of  the  subject  from 
his  mind.  But  in  vain:  they  followed  him  constantly, 
and  when  he  strove  against  them  he  was  lost  in  dark- 
ness ;  when  he  encouraged  them,  he  was  happy. 

On  Sunday,  October  5th,  1794,  he  offered  his  first  so- 
cial prayer  in  a  public  assembly,  and  on  the  14th  of  No- 
vember following  lie  delivered  his  first  exhortation:  we 
extract  from  his  journal. 

"  About  this  period,  I  attempted  to  speak  a  few  words 
of  exhortation  in  public,  for  which  my  parents  gave  me 
tender  reproof,  which  was  like  a  sword  in  my  hearty 
fearing  lest  I  should  run  too  fast. 

"  One  day  1  felt  impressed  ta  exhort  again,  but,  fear- 


LORENZO  DOW*S  LIFE  AND  TRATELS.  17 

ing  the  reproof  of  my  relations,  I  neglected  my  duty,  to 
shun  the  cross,  but  horror  and  condemnation  seized  up- 
on my  mind.  I  began  to  reflect,  if  in  the  beginning  of 
my  pilgrimage  i  have  such  trials  to  encounter,  what  will 
it  be  if  I  attempt  to  go  into  the  vineyard  to  face  a  frown- 
ing world  ?  nay,  let  the  consequence  be  what  it  may, 
saved  or  damned,  I  am  resolved  I  will  not  preach  the 
gospel ;  and  if  ever  one  felt  the  pains  of  the  damned  in 
this  world  it  appeared  to  me  I  did. 

"  I  was  filled  with  horror  and  darkness  whilst  awake, 
•with  fearfulness  and  frightful  dreams  by  night  for  nearly 
the  space  of  four  weeks,  until,  one  night  I  was  awaked 
by  surprise,  and  in  idea  there  were  represented  to  my 
view,  two  persons,  the  one  named  Mercy  with  a  smiling 
countenance  and  having  a  book  in  his  hand,  said  to  me, 
"  if  you  will  submit  and  be  willing  to  go  and  preacb, 
there  is  mercy  for  you"  ;  the  other,  by  the  name  of  Jus- 
tice, with  a  solemn  countenance,  holding  a  drawn,  glit- 
tering sword  over  my  head,  added :  "  if  you  will  not  sub- 
mit, you  shall  be  cut  down ;  now  or  never."  It  appeared 
to  me  that  I  had  but  one  halt  hour  for  consideration,  and 
if  I  still  persisted  in  obstinacy,  it  would  be  a  gone  case 
forever. 

"  I  put  my  hands  together,  and  said  Lord  I  submit  to 
go  and  preach  thy  gospel ;  only  grant  my  peaceful  hours 
to  return  and  open  the  door. 

"At  the  dawn  of  day,  I  arose  and  withdrew  to  the 
wilderness  to  weep  and  mourn  before  God;  at  length, 
the  light  of  his  countenance  shined  into  my  soul,  and  I 
felt  humbled  under  his  mighty  hand,  willing  to  become 
any  thing  as  God  should  see  fit" 

Still  his  trials  continued.  His  health  was  extremely 
poor,  he  was  afflicted  with  a  violent  asthma,  and  had 
no  means  of  obtaining  an  equipment  for  the  work  of  the 


18  THE  ECCENTRIC  preacher:     OR 

itinerancy  ;  his  parents,  too,  were  opposed  to  liis  becom- 
ing a  preacher,  though  he  at  last  obtained  a  promise 
from  his  father  that  he  would  not  hinder  him,  provided, 
he  could  obtain  a  iiorse  and  other  necessaries  for  his 
work. 

Nov.  9,  1795,  he  writes,  "Being-  again  tried  in  ray 
mind  in  regard  to  preaching,  fearing  lest  I  should  run 
too  fast  and  querying  from  what  quarter  my  impressions 
came,  I  dreamed  that  I  was  walking  in  the  solitary  woods 
beside  a  brook,  ai\d  saw  a  beautiful  stalk  about  eight 
fe.et  high :  from  the  middle  and  upwards  it  was  covered 
with  beautiful  seeds.  I  heard  a  voice  over  my  head 
saying  to  me,  '  Shake  the  stalk  that  the  seeds  may  fall 
off,  and  cover  them  up :  the  seed  will  be  of  great  value 
to  some,  though  not  to  thyself,  but  thou  shalt  receive 
thy  reward  hereafter.' 

"I  shook  the  stalk  and  beautiful  speckled,  red  seed 
fell  off,  and  I  covered  them  up  with  earth  and  rotten 
leaves,  and  went  on  my  way  to  serve  the  Lord. 

"  Some  time  after,  I  thought  I  was  there  again  and 
saw  a  large  number  of  partridges  or  pheasants,  that  had 
been  scratching  up  a  great  part  of  the  seed.  I  discov- 
ered them  and  was  very  sorry  and  went  and  drove  ihem 
away  and  watched  it  to  keep  them  away.  Then  I  tlio't 
I  began  to  preach,  and  immediately  awaked,  when  the 
parable  of  the  sower  came  into  my  mind. 

"  19th.  I  dreamed  I  saw  a  man  in  a  convulsion  fit, 
and  his  countenance  was  expressive  of  Hell.  I  asked  a 
by-stander  what  made  his  countenance  look  so  horrible 
—said  he,  the  man  was  sick,  and  relating  his  past  ex- 
perience, his  calls  from  time  to  time,  and  his  promises  to 
serve  God  ;  and  how  he  had  broken  them  :  'and  now,' 
said  he,  '  I  am  sealed  over  to  eternal  damnation,'  and  in- 
fitantly  the  convulsion  seizsd  hini.'    This  shocked  me 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  19 

80  much  that  I  instantly  awaked,  and  seemingly  the  man 
was  before  my  eyes. 

"  I  dropped  asleep  aj^ain,  and  thounrht  I  saw  all  man- 
kind in  the  air,  suspenrled  by  a  brittle  thread  over  Hell, 
yet  in  a  state  of  carnal  security.  I  thought  it  to  be  my 
duty  to  tell  them  of  it,  and  again  awaked,  and  these 
v.'ords  were  applied  to  my  mind  with  power,  'there  is  a 
dispensation  of  the  gospel  committed  unto  you,  and  woe 
unto  you  if  you  preach  not  the  gospel.'  I  strove  to  turn 
my  mind  to  something  else,  but  it  so  strongly  followed 
me,  that  I  took  it  as  a  warning  from  God.   • 

"Dec.  31.  I  felt  my  heart  drawn  to  travel  the  world 
at  large,  but  to  trust  God  by  faith,  like  the  birds,  for  my 
bread  was  difficult,  as  my  strength  was  small,  and  1 
shrunk  from  it." 

On  the  7th  of  January,  1776,  he  was  sent  for,  to  visit 
Tolland,  that  his  public  gifts  might  be  judged  of  by  his 
brethren  previously  to  his  being  sent  out  to  preach. — 
He  also  visited  New-London  Circuit,  East  Hartford,  and 
other  places,  where  he  held  several  meetings,  at  one  of 
"which  he  was  suddenly  taken  sick  and  obliged  to  leave 
the  (".esk.  He  continued  to  visit  other  places  until  Feb. 
5th,  when  he  returned  home  ;  on  his  way,  having  missed 
the  road,  he  narrowly  escaped  being  frozen  to  death  in 
the  woods.     Of  this  excursion  he  writes, 

"  I  am  glad  that  I  went,  although  there  was  great  op- 
position against  me  on  every  side.  I  am  every  where 
spoken  evil  of.  I  feel  the  worth  of  souls  lie  near  my 
heart  and  my  duty  still  to  be  to  preach  the  gospel." 

By  an  unexpected  kindness  on  the  part  of  his  uncle, 
his  difficulty  respecting  a  horse  was  removed  ;  he  offer- 
ed to  sell  him  one,  on  a  year's  credit,  if  he  could  find 
bondsmen.  Four  of  the  society  gave  their  names  and 
Lorenzo  was  at  last  equipped  for  the  work  of  the  itine- 


20         THE  ECCENTRIC  preacher:  OR 

rancy.  His  parents  also,  findinjr  him  determined,  relax- 
ed their  opposition  and  furnished  him  with  clothing  and 
mono}'.  With  this  and  a  certificate  of  his  moral  char- 
acter, he  set  out  again  on  another  evangelical  excursion. 
We  shall  here  make  such  extracts  from  his  journal,  as 
will  give  the  reader  a  correct  idea  of  his  trials  and  suc- 
cess, at  least,  as  he  viewed  them. 

"March  30,  1796.  This  morning  early,  I  set  out  for 
■Rhode  Island,  in  quest  of  Jesse  Lee,  who  was  to  attend 
a  quarterly  meetmg  there.  As  I  got  on  to  the  road,  I 
looked  about  and  espied  my  mother  looking  after  me, 
until  I  got  out  of  sight ;  this  caused  me  some  tender 
feelings  afterwards. 

"April  1st.  Upon  my  arrival  at  Cranston,  in  R.  I.,  I 
found  that  J.  Lee  was  gone  to  Boston.  I  set  out  after 
him  and  found,  at  the  preachers'  boarding  house  there, 
that  Lee  had  gone  to  the  East ;  and  their  advice  was,  to 
go  to  Warren,  R.  I.  with  Thomas  Coope,  who  was  going 
to  set  out  that  afternoon.  Accordingly  I  joined  him 
company  to  East-Town. 

"  Sunday,  3d.  This  day  for  the  first  time  I  gave  out 
a  text  before  a  Methodist  preacher,  and  being  young  in 
years  and  in  the  ministry,  the  expectations  of  many  were 
raised,  who  did  not  bear  with  my  weakness  and  strong 
doctrine,  but  judged  me  very  hard  and  would  not  con- 
sent that  I  should  preach  there  any  more  for  some  time," 

He  continued  to  preach  on  Warren  Circuit  for  three 
months,  when  at  a  quarterly  meeting,  held  June  3d,  he 
was  dismissed  from  the  Circuit  with  orders  to  go  home. 
The  following  document  contains  his  dismission. 

"  We  have  had  brother  Lorenzo  Dow,  the  bearer  here- 
of, travelling  on  Warren  Circuit,  these  three  months  last 
past.  In  several  places  he  was  liked  by  a  great  many 
people  ;  at  other  places  he  was  not  liked  so  well,  and  at 
a  few  places  they  were  not  willing  that  he  should  preach 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  21 

at  all ;  we  have  therefore  thought  it  necessary  to  advise 
him  to  return  hoiue,  for  a  season,  until  further  recom- 
mendition  can  be  obtained  from  the  Society  preachers 
of  that  Circuit. 

JESSE  LEE,  Elder. 
John  Vaniman, 
Thos.  Coope. 

Rhode-Island,  July  3,  1796. 
To  C.  Spry,  and  the  Methodists  in  Coventry." 

Upon  receiving  this  singular  certificate,  he  says  : — 
"Two  or  three  handkerchiefs  were  soon  wet  through 
with  tears  ;  my  heart  was  broke.  I  expostulated  with 
them,  and  besought  for  further  employment."  After 
preaching  at  several  places  on  his  route,  he  reached 
home,  where  he  says,  "  My  parents  asked  me  whether 
I  was  not  convinced  that  I  did  wrong  in  going.  I  told 
them  no,  but  was  glad  ;  others  began  to  mock  and  cry 
out,  'This  man  began  to  build,  and  was  not  able  to 
finish.'" 

Shortly  after  this  discouraging  event,  we  find  him  re- 
ceiving a  license  from  the  Rev.  C.  Spry,  with  permission 
to  labor  on  Tolland  circuit  until  the  quarterly  meeting 
Conference,  to  be  held  shortly  after  at  Enfield.  But  he 
chose  to  make  a  visit  to  his  sister,  at  Hanover,  N.  H., 
where  he  met  J.  Lee,  who  gave  him  decided  demonstra- 
tions of  disapprobation.  However  he  kept  on  his  way, 
preaching  as  he  had  opportunity,  until  the  time  of  the 
Enfield  quarterly  meeting,  which  he  attended.  Here  he 
wished  a  recommendation  to  the  ensuing  Annual  Con- 
ference, when,  after  much  trouble  and  delay,  one  of  the 
preachers  informed  him  that  his  license  was  sufficient, 
and  bade  him  attend  the  Conference. 

On  the  20th  of  September  the  Conference  was  held 
at  Thomson,  (Conn.)  where  Lorenzo  was  examined  by 
the  bishop,  but  after  strong  opposition  from  T.  Cooke, 


22  THE  ECCExNTRIC  PREACHER:    OR 

J.  Lee  and  N.  Snethen,  he  was  rejected  on  the  plea  that 
he  had  no  written  recommendation.  This  rejection  so 
affected  him  that  he  could  take  no  food  for  thirty-six 
hours. 

Determined  not  to  be  baffled,  Mr  Dow  set  out  to  trav- 
el on  his  own  responsibility,  when  he  was  sent  for  by 
one  Phillip  Wao-ar,  with  whom  he  labored  on  Orange 
circuit  three  months.     While  on  this  circuit  he  writes: 

"  October  12th.  I  never  felt  the  plague  of  a  hard 
heart  as  I  do  of  late,  nor  so  much  faith  as  I  now  have 
that  inbred  corruption  will  be  done  away.  I  never  felt 
the  worth  of  souls  so  near  my  heart  as  I  do  of  late,  and 
it  seems  as  if  I  could  not  give  vent  enough  to  it.  Lord ! 
prosper  my  v/ay. 

"  October  SOth.  Satan  pursues  me  from  place  to 
place.  Oh!  how  can  people  dispute  there  being  a  dev- 
il I  If  they  underwent  as  much  as  I  do  with  his  buifet- 
ings  they  would  dispute  it  no  more.  He,  throwing  in 
his  fiery  darts,  my  mind  is  harrassed  like  punching  the 
body  with  forks  and  clubs.  Oh !  that  my  Savior  would 
appear  and  sanctify  my  soul  and  deliver  me  from  all 
within  that  is  contrary  to  purity. 

"Nov.  1st.  A  few  evenings  since,  I  dreamed  that  a 
minister  came  and  reproved  me  harshly  whilst  I  was 
preaching.  In  this  place  (Belcher)  it  was  fulfilled,  for  a 
Baptist  preacher  in  the  congregation  accused  me  of 
laying  down  false  doctrine  :  presently  a  Presbyterian  af- 
firmed the  same  likewise  because  I  said  a  christian 
■would  not  get  angry.  Here  also  appeared  some  little 
fruit  of  my  labor." 

After  three  months  severe  labor  on  the  above  circuit, 
Mr  Dow  was  so  discouraged  by  the  inward  trials  of  his 
heart  that  he  determined  to  leave  it  and  spend  some 
time  in  the  neighborhood  of  his  sister's  residence.    He 


LOREINZO  DOW's  LIFE  A^D  TRAVELS.  28 

accordingly  set  out  on  his  journey  to  New  llampsliire. 
The  first  day  he  took  a  cold  so  violent,  that  he  was  near- 
ly deprived  of  his  voice.  At  Brattleboro'  his  friends  ad- 
vised him  not  to  proceed  as  a  violent  snow  storm  was 
raging,  but  Lorenzo  had  appointments  out  and  that  de- 
termiiied  him:  he  proceeded,  and  after  ploddincr  his  te- 
dious wav  through  ten  miles  of  newly-fallen  snow, 
reached  his  first  scene  of  labors,  where  he  says,  "  a  sol- 
emn time  we  had."  From  thence  he  pursued  his  way, 
at  the  hazard  of  his  life,  fifteen  miles  farther,  through  a 
snow  that  was  now  knee  deep  on  the  level,  but  in  con- 
sequence of  a  severe  wind  was  fast  creating  dangerous 
drifts.  But  he  persevered  and,  though  much  wearied 
and  chilled,  reached  his  appointment.  This  affords  us 
another  instance  of  his  energy  and  perseverance.   ^ 

Reaching  his  sister's,  he  felt  disposed  to  spend  some 
time  in  study,  but  dissatisfied  with  the  confinement  it 
required  he  soon  re-commenced  his  erratic  wanderings 
round  the  country.  At  Enfield,  N,  H.,  he  was  invited  to 
settle  among  them.  Of  this  he  says,  "  This  was  some- 
what pleasing  to  nature,  as  by  it  I  could  have  ease  and 
acquire  wealth  ;  an  elegant,  new  meeting  house  being 
also  ready :  but  something  within  would  not  sutler  me 
to  comply.  Still  feeling  it  my  duty  to  travel,  I  went  in 
to  Canaan,  Lyme,  Dorchester,  Orford,  Hebron,  New 
Lebanon,  Strafford,  Tunbridge,  Chelsea,  Hartford,  and 
many  adjacent  towns  :  and  the  feather  edge  of  prejudice 
was  removed  and  some  few  were  awakened  and  con- 
verted to  God." 

The  following  conversation,  which  occurred  at  Ver- 
shire,  Vt.,  in  1797,  between  him  and  Rev.  N.  Snethen, 
is  interesting,  as  it  displays  that  native  independence  of 
mind  so  peculiar  to  Mr  Dow.  Said  Mr  S.  "  J.  Lee  dis- 
approves of  your  travelling  into  so  many  new  places,  and 


»4  THE  ECCENTRIC  PREACHER:    OR 

what  will  you  do  provided  he  forbids  your  preachinrr?" 

Lorenzo  replied :  "  It  does  not  belong  to  J.  Lee  or 
any  other  man  to  say  whether  I  shall  preach  or  not,  for 
that  is  to  be  determined  between  God  and  my  own  soul ; 
only,  it  belongs  to  the  Methodists  to  say  whether  I  shall 
preach  in  their  connexion.  But  as  long  as  I  feel  so  im- 
pressed, I  shall  travel  and  preach,  God  being  my  help- 
er :  and  as  soon  as  I  find  my  mind  released,  I  intend  to 
stop,  let  people  say  what  they  will." 

«But^"  said  Mr  S.  "  what  will  you  call  yourself?  The 
Methodists  will  not  own  you,  and  if  you  take  that  name, 
you'll  be  advertised  in  the  public  papers  as  an  impos- 
tor." 

"  I  shall  call  myself  a  friend  of  mankind,"  said  Mr 
Dow. 

"Oh  !  for  the  Lord's  sake,  don't ;  for  you  are  not  ca- 
pable of  it,  and  not  one  of  a  thousand  is;  and  if  you  do, 
you'll  repent  it,"  replied  Mr  S. 

"  I  am  in  the  hand  of  God,  and  I  feel  submissive,"  was 
the  answer  of  Lorenzo  as  he  rode  off  towards  his  ap- 
pointment. 

At  Charlestown  he  met  Mr  J.  Lee,  who  informed  him 
that  he  must  obtain  a  new  recommendation  from  his  na- 
tive circuit  or  not  think  of  bemg  admitted  into  Confer- 
ence. And  at  the  Orange  circuit  quarterly  meeting,  he 
forbad  the  preacher  to  employ  Lorenzo  any  more.  As 
Mr  Lee  rode  away  Mr  Dow  ran  after  him  and  said,  "  if 
you  can  get  no  text  to  preach  upon  between  now  and 
Conference,  I  give  you  Genesis,  xl.  14." 

Returning  home,  Lorenzo  preached  in  his  native  place 
and  obtained  a  recommendation  to  Conference  by  a 
unanimous  vote  of  the  Society.  While  at  home  his  mind 
was  harrassed  by  strong  temptations,  and  on  one  occa- 
sion he  sought  the  river  for  the  purpose  of  committing 


LORENZO  DOw's  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  55 

the  cowardly  sin  of  suicide:  but  a  thought  of  eternity 
prevented  him.  He  felt  impressed  to  visit  from  house  to 
house,  but  resisted  the  impression,  and  strove  to  escape 
the  cross  but,  as  he  says, "  the  thorns  by  the  way  scratch- 
ed him,  and  to  take  up  one  end  of  the  cross  it  dragged 
hard ;"  a  remark  which  is  as  true  as  it  is  quaint.  He 
then  resisted  and  overcame  the  temptation  by  visiting 
upv/ards  of  sixty  families  in  succession. 

Visiting  Granville  circuit,  he  labored  successfully  at 
several  appointments.  At  Suilield,  Northainpton,  Con- 
way and  BuckJand,  many  souls  received  our  precious 
faith  through  his  labors.  Having  dreamed  one  night 
that  he  saw  a  field  of  boundless  uimeBsions  filled  with 
corn  and  exposed  to  the  ravages  of  the  birds  who  in- 
fested it,  he  felt  encouraged  to  labor  more  zealously 
than  ever,  and  in  the  space  of  twenty-two  days,  he  trav- 
elled three  hundred  and  fifty  miles  and  preached  seven- 
ty-six times!  Those  were  Herculean  labors,  and  yet 
Mr  Dow  was  a  man  of  slender  form  and  constitution. 

Sept.  19th,  1797,  the  Conference  met  at  Wiibraham, 
Mass.  Here  Mr  Dow's  case  came  up,  and  after  much 
opposition  from  J.  Lee  and  others  it  was  voted  to  permit 
him  to  travel,  by  about  two-thirds  of  the  Conference,  but 
it  was  not  thought  best  to  permit  his  name  to  appear  on 
the  minutes.  So  he  was  given  into  the  charge  of  Rev. 
S.  Hutchinson,  who  was  to  employ  him  or  send  him 
home,  as  he  should  judge  best. 

This  act  appeared  to  Mr  Dow  to  be  a  virtual  rejec- 
tion of  his  claims  to  a  place  in  the  ranks  of  the  Metho- 
dist itinerancy,  and  after  many  mental  trials  he  publicly 
renounced  the  name  of  Methodist ;  assigning  as  a  rea- 
so!i,  "that  the  preachers  would  not  receive  him  as  a 
brother."  He  also  determined  to  visit  some  distant  part 
of  America,  where  Methodism  was  yet  unknown,  and 
2 


26  THE  ECCE.NTRIC  PREACHER:    OR 

after  raising  up  societies  offer  them  and  himself  to  the 
connexion.  Such  were  the  plans  of  a  wounded  and 
grieved  mind. 

But  a  difficulty  stared  him  in  the  face.  He  had  lost 
his  surtout,  and  his  coat  and  shoes  were  ivorn  out.  He 
possessed  no  means  of  procuring  more.  Distressed  and 
embarrassed,  he  sought  the  woods  and  prayed.  God 
refreshed  him,  and  a  few  days  after,  the  people,  of  their 
own  accord,  supplied  all  his  necessities.  Agreeably  to 
his  resolve,  he  started  for  Deerfield,  where  he  narrowly 
escaped  drowning  as  he  forded  the  river.  At  last,  he 
reached  Windsor,  Vt.,  where  some  were  converted. 
While  here,  the  preacher  on  his  former  circuit  wrote  for 
him  to  attend  their  quarterly  meeting.  He  did,  and  af- 
ter some  explanations  from  Mr.  Hutchinson,  he  agreed 
to  labor  in  his  charge,  agreeably  to  the  expressed  will 
of  the  Conference.  Mr.  H.  told  him  if  he  did  well  for 
the  next  three  months,  all  would  yet  be  well ;  otherwise 
he  ehould  die.  So  Lorenzo  entered  upon  his  work,  con- 
vinced that  nothing  but  ai  extensive  revival  under  his 
labors  could  secure  him  a  standing  in  the  Methodist 
Church. 

With  this  conviction,  he  began  his  ministry  at  Pitta- 
town,  N.  Y.,  on  Cambridge  circuit,  where  a  great  ex- 
citement attended  his  preaching.  Thus  he  went  round 
tlie  circuit,  preaching  and  visiting  from  house  to  house, 
and  stirring  up  a  prodigious  interest.  The  wicked  howl- 
ed, the  lukewarm  complained,  the  country  was  in  an  up^ 
roar!  They  called  him  "craz?/ Doiy."  But  in  spite  of 
all  this,  many,  very  many  were  converted  to  God. 

Still,  Lorenzo  was  tried,  and  meeting  with  Br.  Hutch- 
inson, he  besought  him  to  send  him  home.  This  he  re- 
fused, and  bade  him  stay  another  quarter.  He  therefore 
continued  his  labors,  though  he  met  with  many  hard 


LORENZO  DOW's  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  37 

speeches  to  discourage  him.  We  insert  a  few  incidents 
that  occurred  on  this  circuit,  as  they  are  illustrative  of 
his  mode  of  laboring  with  sinners.  We  give  them  mostly 
in  his  own  words,  as  in  our  own,  they  would  lose  most 
of  their  interest. 

"  At  Poultncjy,  I  began  to  question  a  young  woman 
about  her  soul,  but  met  with  cool  answers.  Well,  said 
I,  I'll  pray  to  God  to  send  a  fit  of  sickness  upon  you,  it 
nothing  else  will  do,  to  bring  you  to  God ;  and  if  you 
■wont  repent  then,  to  take  you  out  of  the  way,  so  that 
you  shall  not  hinder  others.  Said  she,  if  you  will  pray 
for  such  things  as  this,  you  cannot  be  the  friend  you 
pretend  to  be  to  my  soul  ;  and  I'll  venture  all  your  pray- 
ers. But  she  soon  began  to  grow  uneasy  and  restless, 
and  went  into  one  room  and  into  another,  back  and  forth  ; 
then  she  sat  down,  but  could  get  no  relief.  The  whole 
family,  except  the  father  and  son,  began  to  grow  outra- 
geous towards  me,  and  I  went  seven  miles  late  at  night 
for  the  sake  of  family  quietness.  Shortly  afterwards, 
that  young  woman  began  to  seek  God." 

"  At  Skeinsboro'  was  a  woman  who  found  fault  with 
me  for  exhorting  the  wicked  to  pray,  saying,  the  prayers 
of  the  wicked  were  an  abomination  to  the  Lord.  But  I 
told  her,  that  was  home-made  scripture,  for  there  was  no 
such  passage  in  the  bible.  I  besought  her  to  pray,  but 
she  replied,  I  cannot  get  time.  I  then  offered  to  buy  the 
time,  and  for  a  dollar  she  promised  to  spend  one  day  as 
I  should  direct,  if  it  were  in  a  lawful  way  ;  provided  she 
could  get  the  day.  She  did  not  think  that  I  was  in  earn- 
est, but  I  turned  to  her  mistress,  who  promised  to  give 
her  a  day :  then,  throwing  a  dollar  into  her  lap,  I  called 
God,  and  about  thirty  persons  present,  to  M'itness  the 
agreement.  She  besought  fne  to  take  it  again,  which  I 
refused,  saying,  if  you  go  to  hell  it  may  follow  and  en- 


28  THE  ECCENTRIC  PREACHER!    OR 

hance  your  damnation.  About  ten  days  elapsed,  when 
her  conscience  roaring  aloud,  she  took  the  day  and  read 
two  chapters  in  the  bible,  and  retired  thrice  to  pray. 
•Before  night,  she  felt  distressed  on  account  of  her  soul, 
and  soon  found  the  comforts  of  religion." 

He  thus  describes  a  scene  which  was  enacted  at  East- 
town:  "Solemnity  rested  upon  every  countenance,  and 
in  the  morning  the  congregation  was  triple  its  usual 
number.  This  neighborhood,  I  visited  from  house  to 
house,  and  conversed  personally  with  the  youth.  I 
found  two  thirds  of  them  under  serious  impressions,  and 
in  this  private  conversation  they  promised  to  pray  for  a 
season.  One  of  these  broke  her  promise  and  strove  to 
escape  my  sight,  but  following  her  to  a  neighboring 
house,  Isat  at  the  door,  and  would  not  let  her  out  until 
she  promised  to  serve  God  or  the  Devil  for  a  fortnight : 
she  chose  the  latter,  saying,  I  can't  keep  the  other.  I 
called  God  to  witness,  and  said,  I'll  pray  that  you  n)ay 
be  taken  sick  before  the  fortnight's  up — and  left  her. 
Before  night,  she  began  to  grow  uneasy,  and  in  about  a 
week  was  hopefully  converted  to  God." 

"One  evening,  while  T.  Dewey  was  exhorting,  a  flash 
of  forked  lightning  pierced  the  air,  and  rolling  thunder 
seenjed  to  shake  the  house.  Some  screeched  out  for 
mercy,  some  jumped  out  at  the  windows,  and  others  ran 
out  at  the  door.  From  this  night,  the  stir  became  visi- 
ble, and  thirteen  of  the  youth  that  night  resolved  to  pur- 
sue religion.  A  young  man,  named  Gideon  Draper, 
said,  '  If  I  can  stand  the  crazy  man,  I  will  defy  all  the 
Methodist  preachers  to  convert  me.'  I  talked  with  him  ; 
he  objected,  '  I  am  too  young ;'  but  here  God  brought 
him  down,  and  he  is  now  an  itinerant  preacher." 

On  the  20th  of  June,  he  attended  the  quarterly  meet- 
ing <xi  Pittstown.     Here  they  had  a  most  powerful  meet- 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  A-XD  TRAVELS.  29 

in<T:  more  than  a  hundred  souls  were  blessed  and  quick- 
ened. The  love  feast  began  at  nine  o'clock,  A.  M.,  and 
did  not  close  until  nearly  night. 

On  that  circuit  he  had  travelled  six  hundred  miles  in 
four  weeks,  and  preached  seventy,  or  seventy-five  times. 

After  the  quarterly  meeting,  he  renewed  his  labors. 
At  Brandon,  a  wealthy  merchant  and  his  niece,  attracted 
by  curiosity,  attended  his  meeting,  fell  under  the  influ- 
ence of  his  word,  and  soon  afterwards,  with  nearly  fifty 
more,  joined  the  society.  He  also  preached  at  Hinds- 
bury,  Monkton,  Starkborough,  Wil listen,  Richmond, 
Cambridge,  and  other  places,  with  much  power  and 
effect. 

At  St  Albans,  a  hearer  made  a  disturbance,  and  Lo- 
renzo reproved  him.  He  threatened  to  prosecute.  Mr. 
Dow  defied  him,  and  at  a  subsequent  meeting  he  attempt- 
ed to  wring  the  nose  of  our  preacher,  but  was  defeated 
by  the  interference  of  others,  and  turned  out  of  doors. 
The  next  day,  he  waylaid  him  until  he  grew  chilled,  and 
was  obliged  to  retire  to  a  house  to  warm  himself.  While 
there,  Lorenzo  passed  him  unhurt. 

On  the  10th  of  September,  he  was  taken  sick  while 
preaching  at  Danby.  It  was  the  commencement  of  a 
fever.  The  physician  who  was  called  in,  was  a  wicked 
man,  and  administered  medicine  that  increased  his  fe- 
ver. His  attendance  and  accommodations  were  very 
wretched.  He  grew  worse  fast.  As  a  remedy,  he 
drank  twenty-four  cups  of  water,  and  grew  better,  but 
was  still  very  sick.  He  then  caused  himself  to  be  car- 
ried on  a  sort  of  bier  to  a  rich  man's  house,  several  miles 
off,  where  he  hoped  to  find  an  abundant  hospitality  :  but 
he  was  disappointed  ;  they  gave  him  hardly  any  atten- 
tion, and  he  grew  very  sick,  and  suffered  much.  His 
enemies  reported  him  to  be  dead ;  the  report  spread  :  his 


30         THE  ECCENTRIC  preacher:  OR 

relations  heard  it  and  went  into  mourning,  and  several 
of  the  preachers  ventured  to  preach  his  funeral  sermon 
at  various  places. 

Soon,  however,  sorne  of  his  spiritual  friends  heard  of 
his  sickness,  and  sent  him  the  means  of  comfort,  and 
one,  Mary  Switzer,  sent  a  wagon  with  a  promise  if  he 
would  come  to  her  father's  residence,  his  wants  should 
be  supplied.  He  went,  at  the  hazard  of  life,  twenty- 
seven  miles,  where  with  good  nursing  and  proper  nour- 
ishment, and,  as  he  thought,  by  special  interposition  of 
divine  power,  he  recovered  after  an  illness  often  weeks. 
On  the  events  recorded  in  this  chapter,  we  offer  no  re- 
marks, but  leave  the  reader  to  make  his  own  reflections. 


CHAPTER  HI. 

HIS  VOYAGE  TO,  AND  RECEPTION  IN,  IRELAND. 

At  the  Conference  in  1798,  Mr.  Dow  was  admitted  on 
trial.  Thus,  the  desire  of  his  heart  was  at  last  accom- 
plished ;  upon  his  reception,  S.  Hutchinson  remarked  to 
the  Rev.  J.  Lee :  "  This  is  the  crazy  man  you  have  been 
trying  to  kill  so  much." 

We  do  not  find  the  name  of  his  Circuit  on  his  jour- 
nal. He  speaks  of  going  north  to  Argyle,  to  Shermon's 
Patent,  to  Queensborough,  to  Rutland  and  Brandon, 
•where  he  preached  with  such  faithfulness  that  he  called 
the  sun,  moon  and  stars,  the  beasts  and  fowls  to  witness 
that  he  was  free  from  the  blood  of  their  souls.  During 
ten  months'  preaching  on  this  circuit,  he  says,  that  "  two 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  31 

hundred  were  taken  into  the  Society,  and  as  many  mofe 
went  off  and  joined  the  Baptists  and  Presbyterians." 

After  the  first  of  January,  1799,  he  went  to  labor  on 
Pittsfield  Circuit,  "the  most  despised  of  any  in  New- 
England."  On  the  3d,  he  writes,  "  I  began  to  pursue 
the  Circuit  regularly,  after  my  irregular  manner,  preach- 
ing to  sinners,  lukewarm  professors  and  backsliders." 

At  liOnox,  on  this  circuit,  he  nearly  perished  in  a  snow 
etorm.  At  Pittsfield,  they  refused  to  receive  him  into 
their  houses.  At  Adams  and  Standford,  revivals  follow- 
ed his  labors,  as  also  at  Troy  and  Greenbush.  At  the 
latter  place  crowds  flocked  to  hear  him.  Pie  told  them 
one  day  that  God  had  promised  to  convert  two  souls  that 
day,  and  if  they  were  not  converted  then  he  would  con- 
sent to  be  branded  on  the  forehead  with  the  mark  of  li- 
ar, and  on  the  back  with  hypocrite.  The  people  felt 
astounded — they  watched,  and  two  persons  sought  the 
Lord  on  that  very  occasion. 

At  New  Concord,  religion  was  low.  He  told  them 
God  would  revive  his  work  and  then  prayed  that  some- 
thing awful  might  occur  to  move  them,  if  nothing  else 
would  do  it ;  and,  by  a  strange  coincidence,  one  of  a 
company  of  youth  riding  out  shortly  after,  said,  "  I  will 
ride  as  Christ  rode  into  Jerusalem."  At  once  his  horse 
started — ran  and  throw  him  off.  He  spoke  no  more  !  A 
revival  soon  broke  out  there. 

At  Spencertown,  an  old  man  told  a  large  congrega- 
tion that  he  was  crazy.  He  replied,  "  People  do  not 
blame  crazy  ones  for  their  behaviour;  and  last  night  1 
preached  from  the  word  of  the  Lord  ;  but  when  I  come 
again  I  will  preach  from  the  word  of  the  Devil."  "This," 
he  says,  "tried  our  weak  brethren  ;  however  the  people 
came  out  by  hundreds  to  hear  the  new  doctrine,  J  spoke 


32         THE  ECCENTHIC  PREACHER:  OR 

from  Luke  iv.  6,  7,  and  an  overshadowing  season  W8 
had  of  the  divine  presence." 

The  foHowing-  anecdote  illustrates  his  peculiar  mode 
of  personal  labor  with  sinners.     He  writes  : 

"I  besought  a  family  (at  Spencertown)  to  promise  to 
serve  God,  but  upon  receiving  a  refusal  I  could  not  eat 
my  breakfast,  and  set  out  to  go  away  in  the  rain.  Con- 
viction seized  the  minds  of  the  family,  they  followed  me 
with  tears  and  made  me  the  promise." 

His  perseverance  with  sinner.3  is  forcibly  shown  in 
the  following.  At  Lenox,  "  lived  a  yeung  woman  much 
prejudiced  against  religion.  Her  parents  besought  me 
to  say  nothing  to  her  about  her  soul,  lest,  she  should  be 
prejudiced  and  hardened  more.     I  said  to  her, 

'  Sophy,  if  you'll  read  a  chapter  every  day  till  my  re- 
turn, four  weeks  hence,  I'll  give  you  this  bible.'  She, 
thinking  I  was  in  jest,  said  she  would.  I  instantly  gave 
it  to  her.  At  my  return,  as  she  said,  she  had  fulfilled 
her  promise.  I  requested,  a  second  ;  which  was,  that 
she  should  pray  twice  a  day,  in  secret,  another  four 
weeks.  Slie  said,  '  You'll  go  and  tell  it  round,  if  I  do.' 
I  assured  her  I  would  not.  She  replied,  'I'll  retire,  but 
not  promise  to  kneel.'  On  my  return,  I  requested  one 
promise  more,  viz:  to  pray  once  a  day,  kneeling.  She 
promised,  and  v/as  converted." 

Towards  the  close  of  the  Conference  year,  his  health 
failed  him.  His  food  did  not  nourish  him,  and  he  re- 
quested permission  of  the  Conference  to  take  a  voyage 
to  keland,  for  the  recovery  of  his  health.  This  request 
he  Conference  refused  to  grant,  and  they  appointed  him 
to  a  circuit  en  the  confines  of  Canada.  Though  disap- 
pointed, he  yielded  his  inclination  to  the  will  of  the  Con- 
ference, and  made  arrangements  to  repair  to  his  circuit 
after  visiting  his  parents. 


LORENZO  DOW's  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  33 

For  his  services  on  the  Prttsfield  circuit,  he  writes  that 
he  received  ten  dollars. 
^  During  tlie  session  of  Conference,  he  had  visited  Al- 
bany, Lansingburg  and  Niskenna,  and  having  received 
his  new  appointment,  he  set  out  for  his  native  town. — 
Here  he  remained  a  month,  preaching  and  visitin^  in 
his  usual  nervous  and  energetic  manner;  afier  which, 
he  started  for  his  circuit.  His  parting  from  his  friends, 
is  so  singular  a  scene  that  we  cannot  forbear  inserting 
it,  chiefly  in  his  own  words.  It  seems  that  he  hadpray- 
ed  for  the  privilege  of  preaching  one  funeral  sermon, 
while  at  home.  A  class-leader  died,  and  he  had  the  op- 
portunity. Hundreds  attended.  Having  concluded  his 
sermon  ;  he  said, 

"  Ye  all  see  the  decline  I  am  in,  and  I  take  you  to  re- 
cord my  walk  and  conversation  since  I  first  professed 
religion,  and  my  faithfulness  to  you  now,  and  if  God  per- 
mit, I  intend  to  see  you  again,  at  the  end  of  eleven 
months  ;  but  it  is  impressed  on  my  mind,  as  though  I 
should  never  see  you  again  in  time.  I  therefore  bid  you 
farewell  until  the  judgment  day.  Then  taking  my 
youngest  sister  by  the  hand  I  bade  her  farewell,  and 
begged  her  to  strive  to  meet  me  in  heaven,  and  rather 
than  have  her  turn  back  to  sin,  I  told  her  I  would  soon- 
er come  back  and  preach  her  funeral  sermon.  Another 
sister,  and  my  mother  and  brother-in-law  I  shook  hands 
with  likewise.  My  father's  trials  were  so  great  he  with- 
drew, (I  suppose  to  weep)  and  then  mounting  my  horse 
in  sight  of  the  assembly,  the  sun  shining  from  the  west- 
ern sky,  I  called  it  to  witness  against  that  assembly,  if 
they  would  not  repent,  that  my  skirts  were  free  from 
their  blood;  then  putting  the  whip  to  my  horse  I  rode 
forty  miles  that  evening  without  dismounting." 

Mr.  Dow  now  entered  upon  the  labors  of  his  new  cir- 


34  THE  ECCENTRIC  PREACHER  :    OR 

cuit  with  zeal,  energy  and  success.  Here,  he  preached 
in  the  towns  bordering  Mussisque  bay,  Onion  and  La 
Moille  rivers.  Souls  were  converted  under  his  minis- 
try. His  health,  however,  continued  to  decline,  and  his 
disposition  to  visit  Ireland  seems  to  have  kept  pace  with 
his  declining  health.  Accordingly,  at  the  first  quarter- 
ly meeting  of  the  circuit,  at  Essex,  he  made  known  his 
determination  to  leave  the  place  and  to  proceed  forth- 
with to  Ireland.  His  brethren  opposed  this  really  wild 
expedition  with  much  earnestness ;  but  to  no  purpose. 
Lorenzo  was  decided,  and  nothing  could  deter  him  from 
prosecuting  his  favorite  plan.  Accordingly  he  disposed 
of  his  horse,  watch  and  other  articles  of  personal  prop- 
erty, and  having  collected  his  whole  wealth  he  found 
himself  possessed  of  a  purse  of  six  guineas !  besides 
which,  he  had  a  small  stock  of  provisions  for  his  voyage. 
With  this  meagre  supply  of  means,  he  took  his  depart- 
ure from  Mussisque  river,  and  in  a  day  or  two  reached 
Montreal. 

As  the  incidents  which  occurred  before  his  embarka- 
tion contain  some  interest,  we  shall  again  let  Mr.  Dow 
speak  for  himself. 

"  Discovering  several  vessels  lying  at  the  wharf,  at 
Montreal,  I  walked  on  board  one  of  them,  inquiring 
where  she  belonged  and  whither  she  was  bound. 

The  captain  answered,  ''Belongs  to  Quebec,  and 
bound  to  Dublin." 

"  Will  you  give  me  a  passage  ?" 

"Have  you  plenty  of  money  ?" 

"  What  shall  you  charge  ?" 

"  Sometimes  people  give  fifteen  guineas,  but  I  will 
carry  yop  for  eight." 

"  I'll  give  you  five  guineas  and  find  myself ;  will  you 
carry  me  for  that  ?     If  not,  I  must  return  to  the  States.'* 


LORENZO  DOW's  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  35 

"  I  Avill,  but  you  are  a  fool  for  g-oinj  from  a  plentiful 
country,  with  peace,  to  that  disturbed  island." 

"I  then  gave  him  his  money,  bought  some  more  pro- 
visions, and  had  a  few  shillings  left.  The  vessel  soon 
after  put  down  the  river  a  few  leagues. 

"  October  10th.  A  woman  passenger  said,  "  I  jndg© 
this  man  's  a  Methodist." 

I,  turning  away  with  an  air  of  disdain,  replied,  "What 
do  you  lump  me  in  with  that  despised  people  for?" 

She  answered,  "  because  you  don't  drink  and  be  jo- 
vial and  cheerful  as  the  rest  of  us  are  ;  but  you  are  gloo- 
my and  cast  down  like  that  people." 

"  Well,"  said  the  sailors,  "  we'll  try  him  over  the 
ground  and  see  what  he  is  made  of."  Then  they  began 
to  put  tar  on  my  face  and  tallow  on  my  clothes,  until  I 
told  the  captain  he  ought  to  make  them  behave  more 
civil.  However,  I  was  the  object  of  all  their  sport  for 
seven  days,  on  our  way  to  Quebec.  During  this  time  I 
suffered  much  from  the  cold,  having  no  blankets,  and 
lying  either  on  a  cable  or  across  some  potash  barrels. 

"One  morning  a  lieutenant  came  on  board,  and  des- 
cribing my  dress,  inquired  if  such  a  person  were  in  the 
ship.  I  went  on  deck.  The  officer  then  said,  '  You 
have  been  at  Lapareri  and  were  thought  to  bd  one  of 
McClen's  party— a  spy— and  I  have  come  a  hundred 
miles  to  apprehend  you.'  I  showed  him  my  license  and 
some  private  letters,  and  told  him  my  business.  He  re- 
plied, '  I  believe  you  are  an  honest  man,  and  if  you  will 
enlist  I  will  give  you  a  bounty  and  a  sergeancy — if  not, 
you  shall  be  pressed.' 

"I  replied,  'Fight  I  cannot,  in  conscience,  for  any 
man ;  because  it  would  be  inconsistent  for  a  man  one 
hour  to  be  praying  for  his  enemies  and  the  next  learning 
to  handle  a  gun  to  shoot  them." 


SG  THE  ECCE^'TRIC  PREACHER  '.    OR 

The  lieutenant  troubled  him  until  they  reached  Q,ue- 
-  bee,  which  was  that  evening.      Ho  then  gave  hiin  a 
lodnring  and  let  him  go :  but  we  return  to  his  journal. 

''  The  next  morning  I  inquired  for  Methodists,  and 
through  the  medium  of  an  English  lad,  found  a  few  back- 
slidden ones,  and  collected  about  a  dozen  English  peo- 
ple to  a  meeting  in  the  evening.  The  next  evening  the 
congregation  increased  to  thirty  ;  theace,  to  about  a 
hundred  and  fifty  during  the  five  days  I  was  there.  A 
woman  on  the  first  day  had  invited  me  to  dinner  ;  then, 
her  husband  invited  me  to  eat  and  drink  as  often  as  I 
needed,  during  my  stay.  This  I  looked  upon  as  provi- 
dential. 

"This  woman  was  very  inquisitive  to  know  what  I 
had  procured  for  my  voyage,  and,  the  day  before  I  was 
to  set  sail,  she  gave  me  all  the  small  articles  that  were 
lacking.  The  last  evening,  after  preaching,  several  per- 
sons of  their  own  accord  came  forward  and  laid  down 
several  pieces  of  money,  amounting  to  several  dollars. — 
A  buffalo  skin  and  a  blanket  were  given  me  for  my  bed 
on  the  voyage.  Thus,  that  God  who  I  believed  had 
called  me  to  go  this  voyage  caused  my  wants  to  be  sup- 
plied, and  I  thought  if  he  thus  far  had  opened  the  way, 
step  by  step,  what  reason  had  I  to  doubt  but  what  all 
my  journies  might  be  made  as  prosperous  as  this  ?  ■  I 
think  about  twenty  were  stirred  up  to  seek  God,  during 
this  short  stay,  who  earnestly  entreated  me  to  tarry  with 
them  ;  but  not  prevailing,  sought  a  promise  for  my  re- 
turn in  the  Spring,  which  I  gave  them  not;  but  said,  'If 
God  will,  perhaps  I  may  see  you  again.'  " 

On  the  28th  of  October,  1799,  Mr  Dow  sailed  from 
Quebec.  Nothing  worthy  of  record  occurred  during  the 
voyage.  Like  most  other  men  when  first  tiiey  tempt  the 
.ocean,  he  suffered  item  sea  sickness:  he  ajs.o  had  A'jv- 


Lo^>E^•zo  Dow's  life  and  travels.  37 

era!  severe  spiritual  conflicts  and  endured  some  incon- 
venience in  one  or  two  tremendous  gales  that  assailed 
them  on  their  passage.  On  the  2Gth  of  November  the 
ve-^sel  reached  a  place  called  Larne,  on  the  north  of  Ire- 
land, where  she  was  detained,  by  adverse  winds,  nine- 
teen days.  We  again  quote  from  his  journal,  that  the 
reader  may  see  how  this  eccentric  man  succeeded  among 
strangers. 

"  Nov.  27th.  This  morning  I  went  on  shore,  having 
no  proper  recommendations  with  me.  As  I  entered  the 
village  I  inquired  for  Methodists  ;  a  lad  directed  me  to 
inquire  for  Joiin  Weares,  a  school  master.  Meeting  him 
at  the  door  of  his  house  I  asked,  "Are  there  any  that 
love  God  here,  or  in  town  ?" 

"He  replied.  'My  wife  makes  more  ado  about  religion 
than  all  the  people  in  town ;  come,  walk  in,'  I  went  in, 
but  found  him  an  enemy  to  the  truth. 

"In  this  place  no  regular  society  had  been  establish- 
ed ;  until,  a  few  days  previous,  nine  women  were  joined 
in  class.  One  of  these  kept  a  school,  and  permitted 
me  to  occupy  her  school  room  for  a  meeting.  With 
much  difficulty  I  got  a  few  collected  in  the  evening,  to 
whom  I  spoke.  After  meeting,  a  loyal  woman  scolded 
me  because  I  did  not  pray  for  the'King. 

"I  replied,  that  I  came  trom  a  country  where  we  had 
no  King,  and  it  was  noAatural  for  me  to  do  so  ;  she  ex- 
cused me  and  invited  me  to  breakfast." 

During  his  stay  here  his  congregations  continued  to 
increase,  and  a  deep  religious  interest  was  created,  so 
that,  to  use  his  own  expression,  "  one  and  another  were 
telling  what  God  had  done  for  their  souls."  While  at 
Larne  he  slept  on  a  bed,  the  first  time  for  many  months, 
it  having  been  his  practice  to  lie  on  the  floor  on  account 
of  his  asthma.     But  finding  the  floor  of  his  bed-room  at 


88  THE  ECCEKTRIC  preacher:   OR 

i 

Larne  composed  of  hard  earth,  he  Avas  compelled  to  re- 
sort to  the  bed,  and  slept  untroubled  by  his  old  disturb- 
er. We  now  give  his  own  description  of  his  arrival  and 
reception  in  the  city  of  Dublin  : 

"December  15th.  After  two  days  sail  I  landed  in 
Dublin.  Having  a  letter,  I  sought  to  find  him  to  whom 
it  was  directed ;  a  custom  house  officer  for  tivo  and  six- 
pence piloted  me  there,  but  in  vain ;  the  man  was  not  at 
home ;  and  night  coming  on,  I  scarcely  knew  what  to 
do.  The  family  would  not  receive  me,  so  I  inquired  for 
Methodists.  A  chaise  driver  said,  '  I  know  where  one 
lives  ;'  and  for  a  shilling  I  got  him  to  conduct  me  to  the 
house. 

"  After  rapping,  the  door  was  opened  by  a  boy,  who 
informed  the  mistress  that  a  stranger  wanted  her  hus- 
band. She  said,  'let  him  come  in  till  he  comes  home.' 
By  and  by,  in  came  her  husband,  William  Thomas,  who 
stopped  and  looked,  and  then  Avith  a  smile  shook  hands 
with  me.  After  I  told  him  my  case  he  invited  me  to 
tarry  all  night.  In  the  evening  I  attended  meeting  at 
Gravel-walk,  where  I  was  called  upon  to  pray. 

"The  next  day,  I  called  to  see  the  preacher,  Mr.  To- 
bias, and  made  my  call  known  unto  him.  He  heard  me, 
and  advised  me  to  go  on  board  again,  and  return  to 
America.  He  then  offered  me  a  half-crown,  which  I 
refused,  and  with  tears  left  him.  I  had  now  only  two 
shillings  left ! 

"In  the  evening,  at  Whitefriar  street  meeting  house, 
I  was  again  invited  to  pray  and  sing :  but  Mr.  Tobias 
checked  me,  and  took  the  hymn  out  of  my  mouth.  Af- 
ter meeting,  he  gave  me  a  sharp  reprimand." 

Thus  embarrassed,  Mr.  Dow  scarcely  knew  what  to 
do.  Without  money,  friends,  or  means  of  living,  it  seem- 
ed as  if  he  must  perish  unknown  and  unaided  in  a  for- 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  39 

eign  land.  Still  he  found  consolation,  he  says,  in  the 
promises  of  God.  He  was  much  strengthened  by  a 
dream  of  a  bowl  of  meal,  which,  being  leavened,  spread 
far  and  wide.     But  we  return  to  his  journal. 

"  Dec.  20th.  Whilst  we  were  at  family  prayer,  a 
Scotch  soldier  overheard  us :  he  came  in,  and  invited 
me  to  preach  in  the  barracks  at  Chapel-izod.  I  did  so 
several  times,  and  other  opportunities  offering  themselves 
in  different  barracks,  I  improved  them,  and  at  Island- 
bridge  God  began  a  revival,  and  a  society  was  formed. 
I  had  a  strong  desire  to  visit  the  country  towns  :  at  first, 
the  door  seemed  shut,  but  at  length  a  person,  who  had 
been  expelled  society  for  a  scfuple  of  conscience,  sent 
word  to  me  that  he  was  going  to  Queen's  county,  and 
if  I  was  minded  to  go,  he  would  bear  my  expenses.  I 
accepted  his  offer. 

"  26th.  Taking  the  canal  boat,  we  proceeded  to  Mon- 
astereven,  where  we  walked  to  Mount  Mellick.  Here  I 
found  a  man  out  of  society,  who  had  been  abused,  which 
had  occasioned  a  separation  of  about  thirty  Avho  held 
meetings  by  themselves.  I  held  several  meetings  in  the 
neighborhood,  and  we  had  refreshing  seasons  from  the 
presence  of  the  Lord.  A  quarterly  meeting  was  held 
there,  and  I  petitioned  for  liberty  to  go  into  the  love 
feast,  but  was  denied,  because,  said  they,  you  belong  to 
no  particular  people.*^ 

"  My  congregations  were  so  large  that  no  private  house 
could  contaiu  them ;  upon  which  my  friends,  contrary  to 
my  advice,  obtained  the  preaching  house.  I  was  unwil- 
ling to  cause  divisions,  especially  as  the  preacher  had 
left  strict  orders  not  to  let  me  into  the  house. 

"From  Mount  Mellick  I  returned  to  Dublin,  where  I 
found  two  letters  requesting  me  to  return  with  all  speed 
to  Lame.    I  had  i^eceived  money  enough  to  return,  from 


40  THE  ECCENTRIC  PREACHER  !   OR 

the  withdrawn  members.  After  holding  several  meet- 
ings in  the  barracks,  I  set  sail  with  only  two  shillings 
left,  after  paying  my  passage.  After  being  out  thirty 
hours,  we  were  compelled  to  return  on  account  of  a  fear- 
ful storm." 

The  next  extract  strikingly  illustrates  the  benevolence 
of  Mr.  Dow's  heart,  and  may  teach  many  of  our  cold- 
hearted,  wealthy  christians  a  useful  lesson. 

"Jan.  20th,  1800.  To-day,  I  embarked  again.  As  I 
was  going  on  board,  I  heard  the  shrieks  of  a  woman  : 
turning  round,  I  saw  one  weeping,  as  if  her  heart  would 
break.  I  asked  the  cause :  she  said,  she  had  three  chil- 
dren at  home  who  had  eaten  nothing  since  yesterday, 
and  that  she  had  not  a  sixpence  to  buy  bread  for  them," 
and  her  husband  would  not  receive  his  wages  until  Sat- 
urday night.  There  was  a  dialogue  in  my  mind  about 
my  duty  to  relieve  her,  as  1  inquired  how  much  better 
my  present  circumstances  were  than  her's ;  however,.! 
gave  her  one  of  the  shillings  I  had  left ;  and  O  how 
grateful  she  appeared  I  I  then  went  on  board,  and  we 
put  to  sea. 

''  On  the  22d,  we  gained  Belfast  harbor,  and  anchored 
within  two  miles  of  the  town.  I  jumped  into  the  pilot's 
boat,  and  gave  hirp  my  remaining  shilling  to  be  taken 
ashore.  We  reached  the  town  ihrough  a  rough  sea, 
about  six  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  I  wandered  up  and 
down,  till  recollecting  a  letter  I  had  in  my  pocket.  How 
to  find  the  person  to  whom  it  was  directed,  I  did  not 
know,  but  feeling  my  heart  drawn  up  an  alley,  I  went  to 
the  door  and  rapped.  The  people  desired  to  know  what 
I  wanted.  I  told  them,  and  they  invited  me  to  take  tea 
— a  favor  I  received  as  from  the  hand  of  God.  A  lad 
then  conducted  me  to  the  house  I  wished  to  find,  where 
I  found  the  mother  of  sergeant  Tipping,  in  whose  room 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  41 

I  had  preached  at  Island-bridge,  and  who  had  made  me 
the  bearer  of  his  letter. 

"  Here  I  lodg-ed  a  few  days.  I  also  saw  the  preacher, 
Andrew  Hamilton,  Jr.  To  him  I  related  all  my  situa- 
tion, and  he  gave  me  the  right  hand  of  feljowship,  with 
liberty  to  improve  round  his  circuit,  so  long  as  my  con- 
duct should  be  such  as  it  was  at  Larne.  He  also  gave 
me  money  to  pay  the  passage  of  a  letter  to  New  York  to 
get  justice  to  my  character." 

From  Belfast  Mr  Dow  travelled  to  White  Abbey, 
Carrickfergus,  and  Ballycarey,  at  each  of  which  places 
he  proclaimed  Christ  to  ihe  people.  From  Ballycarey, 
he  proceeded  to  Larne.  Of  this  visit  he  says  :  "I  sfent 
some  more  time  here,  not  altogether  in  vain.  The  soci- 
ety when  I  left  it  amounted  to  about  sixty  in  number. — 
Such  a  village  I  never  met  with  before,  for  universal 
friendship  to  me.  One  man,  named  Martin,  shewed  me 
every  possible  kindness  whilst  I  was  confined  by  a  break- 
ing out,  which  was  generally  thought  to  be  the  small 
•  pox." 

From  Larne  he  proceeded  to  visit  the  Isle  of  Magee, 
Strade,  Cogray,  Doe,  Carley,  Ballinure,  Bryantang,  Kil- 
water,  and  Belleaston.  He  speaks  of  good  and  refresh- 
ing seasons  enjoyed  nt  all  these  places.  Returning  to 
Larne  he  met  a  magistrate  on  the  way,  with  whom  he 
held  the  following  characteristic  dialogue: 

"  Where  are  you  going?"  inquired  the  magistrate. 

"  To  Larne,"  answered  Lorenzo. 

"  Where  did  you  come  from  ?" 

"  Ballycarey." 

"  What's  your  occupation  ?" 

"  I  have  none." 

«  Where  do  you  belong  ?" 

"  No  where." 


42  THE  ECCE>'TRIC  preacher:    OR 

"  What,  are  you  strolling  about  the  country  ?" 

"  Yes,  I  have  no  particular  place  of  residence." 

"  Where's  your  pass  ?' 

"  I  have  none." 

"  \Vhere  were  you  born  ?" 

*'North  America." 

"Welh  to  America  you  shall  go  again — come,  go 
vith  me  to  the  guard-house." 

Lorenzo  made  no  reply,  and  the  magistrate  continued, 

"  What  do  you  follow,  and  what  did  you  come  after?" 

"I  follow  preaching,"  said  Mr  Dow,  "and  came  here 
on  account  of  my  health  ;  and  Methodist  preachers  don't 
apply  to  magistrates  for  passes." 

"  Well,"  said  he,  observing  I  could  not  walk  fast,  my 
feet  being  sore,  "if  ever  I  see  you  this  way  again  I'll 
send  you  to  prison." 

"I  replied,"  says  Lorenzo,  in  his  journal,  "  You  are  at 
your  option  and  can  do  as  you  think  proper."  Then  he 
put  his  whip  to  his  horse  and  rode  on. 

"March  6th.  My  soul  is  pained  on  Zion's  account. 
The  sores  upon  my  feel  grow  worse,  and  I  have  no  one, 
■who  can  sympathise  with  me  in  my  singular  state. 

"  Sunday,  16th.  I  preached  in  Larne  for  the  last  time 
to  many  hundreds  of  people,  and  a  melting  season  it 
•was.  It  is  hard  to  part  Avith  young  beginners,  but  the 
will  of  God  be  done. 

"April  1st.  Quarterly  meeting  was  held  in  Belfast, 
■where  I  met  several  preachers  who  treated  me  with  love 
and  friendship.  One's  name  Avas  Wood.  A  woman  at 
Newry  had  said,  'God  has  forsaken  the  Methodists,  and 
•will  bless  them  no-  more.'     Mr  Wood  replied, 

"God  has  not  forsaken  the^n,  but  will  bless  them 
again,  and  twenty  souls  will  be  converted  before  Satur- 
day night."  V 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  43 

"How  he  came  to  speak  these  words  he  coukl  not 
tell ;  it  was  the  beginning:  of  the  week,  and  there  was  no 
visible  appearance  of  a  revival.  Bat  tiie  next  evening 
some  were  awakened  po^verfiilly,  and  just  twenty,  before 
sunset  on  Saturday,  professed  to  receive  remission  of 
sins. 

"In  Belfast  I  haid  some  meetings  in  the  street,  for 
•which  I  was  sent  to  prison.  But  A.  Hamilton  said  to 
the  officer, 

"Preaching  in  the  streets  is  a  privilege  allowed  us  by 
government,  and  they  will  give  you  no  thanks  for  your 
loyalty  in  sending  this  young  man  to  prison,  for  he  seeks 
to  do  no  harm  if  he  can  do  no  good." 

"  I  got  a  good  opportunity  to  speak  to  the  prisoners  by 
this  means,  and  was  shortly  let  out.  I  bless  God  for  this 
singular  event,  for  it  brought  more  people  out  to  meet- 
ing." 

From  Belfast  Mr  Dow  proceeded  to  Dublin.  His 
passage  was  very  boisterous,  and  he  was  driven  by  stress 
of  weather  into  Ramsay  Key,  in  the  Isle  of  Man,  where 
he  preached,  and  visited  several  families.  On  his  pas- 
sage he  experienced  much  insult  and  persecution  from 
the  sailors  ;  and  the  night  previous  to  his  landing,  he 
dreamed  that  he  held  two  meetings  in  Dublin.  Of  his 
reception  in  Dublin  he  v/rites: 

"  I  went  to  my  old  lodgings  at  W.  Thomas's,  where  I 
continued  about  twelve  days  to  let  my  feet  grow  a  little 
better  ;  but  the  same  shyness  still  appeared  among  tht 
Methodists. 

"Here  I  saw  one  who,  hearing  I  was  sick  in  the 
North,  had  sent  something  for  my  relief,  and  who  now 
gave  me  more  to  bear  my  expenses. 

"May  6th,  I  took  the  canal  boat  for  Monastereven, 
M'here  I  tarried  a  few  days,  and  the  edge  of  prejudice 


44         THE  ECCENTRIC  preacher:  OR 

seemed  to  be  removed  in  general.  We  had  some  re- 
freshing meetings,  though  the  preaching  house  was  shut 
against  me  by  strict  orders  from  the  preachers. 

"A  door  being  opened  I  rode  three  miles  and  held 
four  agreeable  meetings  A  man  carried  me  to  Knights- 
town,  near  Mount  Melick,  as  my  feet  were  so  sore  I 
could  not  walk  ;  my  hands  likewise  were  so  swelled,  I 
could  neither  dress  nor  undress  myself.  So  I  tarried 
with  T.  Gill  for  several  days,  holding  meetings  in  the 
evenings,  the  fruit  of  which  I  expect  to  see  in  the  day 
of  eternity.  Thence,  I  rode  to  Maryborough,  where  I 
found  kind  friends  and  held  four  meetings.  Thence  to 
Mount  Melick,  where  we  had  refreshing  times.  Then 
I  hobbled  to  T.  Gill's  and  spent  a  little  time  more." 

While  here  Mr.  Dow  experienced  some  very  severe 
spiritual  conflicts.  He  was  overwhelmed  at  tim.es  with 
doubts  respecting  the  propriety  of  the  path  he  was  pur- 
suing, but  he  came  forth  from  the  conflict  with  a  strong 
determination  to  persevere  in  calling  sinners  to  God. 

From  Mr.  Gill's  residence  we  find  him,  shortly  after, 
laboring  at  the  towns  of  Hall,  Moat,  Gullamore  and 
Mountrath.  While  in  the  latter  place  as  he  lay  on  his 
bed,  he  says,  "  a  preacher  came  in  and  looked  and  went 
out,  and  inquired,  and  came  in  again  and  calling  me 
brother,  shook  me  by  the  hand.  I  questioned  him  as  to 
his  mind  about  my  leaving  America,  and  about  having  a 
meeting  appointed  in  his  preaching  house :  said  he, 

'It  is  hard  to  judge  in  a  case  where  it  comes  down  on 
a  man's  conscience.  But  I  cannot  encourage  you  ac- 
cording to  discipline  ;  so  I  will  let  you  alone.  But  br. 
Averill  told  me  if  I  saw  you,  to  bid  you  call  on  him.' — 
So  we  parted  in  love." 

On  his  way  to  Donoughmore,  Mr.  Dow  called  on  Mr. 
Averill,  who  gave  him  permission  to  speak  in  his  pulpit 


45 

remarking-,  'I  believe  you  are  sincere,  but  lie  under  a 
powerful  temptation  in  coming  away  from  America.' 

From  Donoughmore,  he  proceeded  to  Durrov/,  Kil- 
kenny, Innisteague,  Ross,  Enniscorthy,  Carnew,  Gorey, 
Eicon,  Rathdrum  and  Wicklow,  at  most  of  which  places 
he  held  a  greater  or  less  number  of  meetings,  with,  how- 
ever, nothing  remarkable  or  worthy  of  notice  connected 
with  them.     But  we  will  now  return  to  his  journal, 

"  From  thence  ( Wicklow)  I  came  to  Dublin,  about  the 
15th  of  July.  Here  I  met  Dr.  Coke,  who  had  just  re- 
turned from  America.  By  him,  I  received  a  letter  from 
my  dear  friend,  I.  Mitchell,  who  was  so  unwilling  1 
should  come  away ;  also,  another  from  R.  Searle.  Tiiese 
gave  me  some  refreshment.  About  this  time,  I  received 
a  letter  from  my  parents  and  sister,  which  gave  me 
comfort. 

"  Dr.  Coke  requested  me  to  go  a  missionary  to  Halifax 
or  Quebec  ;  and  upon  conditions  that  I  should  promise 
obedience  to  his  directions  for  six  years,  would  bear  my 
expenses,  and  see  that  I  wanted  nothing  in  the  way  of 
books,  clothes,  &c.  Having  twenty-four  hours'  consid- 
eration, I  weighed  the  matter,  and  returned  my  answer 
in  the  negative,  as  in  tender  conscience  I  durst  not  leave 
the  kingdom  yet ;  at  which  time,  tears  flowed  plentifully, 
and  it  seemed  as  if  my  head  were  a  fountain  of  waters. 
The  doctor  grasped  me  in  his  arms,  gave  me  a  hug,  and 
went  his  way. 

"  At  the  time  he  made  the  proposal,  one  preacher  sat 
down  by  my  side,  and  said : 

"  '  What  do  you  desire  or  request  the  Conference  to 
do  for  you  ?' 

"  I  replied,  'Nothing,  only  that  the  preachers  should 
not  speak  against  me  to  blacken  my  character,  thus  to 


4(j  THE  ECCE:>fTRIC  PREACHER:    OR 

prejudice  the  people  aainst   me  to  liedge  up   my  way 
and  hurt  my  usefuhiess.' 

**He  then  removed  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  table, 
and  said : 

" '  If  he  attempts  to  travel  in  the  name  of  a  Methodist, 
and  preach  in  the  streets,  the  mob  will  be  upon  him  ; 
and  if  they  once  begin,  they  will  attack  every  Methodist 
preacher  that  conies  along,  and  fall  upon  our  Irish  mis- 
sionaries next :  and  if  they  begin,  it  will  be  hard  to  stop 
them,  and  government  will  immediately  conclude  we  are 
at  ihe  head  of  these  disturbances,  or  the  occasion  of 
them,  by  which  means  they  Avill  deem  us  enemies,  and 
take  away  some  of  our  privileges.'" 

The  doctor  remarked  in  reply. 

'There  was  never  such  a  thing  known  in  the  midst  of 
external  and  internal  wars  and  commotions  that  preach- 
ers were  permitted  to  travel  and  hold  meetings  as  oft  as 
they  pleased,  and  I  dont  know  but  your  travelling  about 
may  do  more  harm  than  the  conversion  of  five  hundred 
Bouls  may  do  good.  I  can't  say,  but  1  shall  be  under  the 
necessity  of  writing  to  Lord  Castlereagh  to  inform  him, 
who  and  what  you  are;  that  we  disown  you,  &.c. ;  then, 
you  will  be  arrested  and  committed  to  prison,  and  if  you 
once  get  in  gaol  it  will  be  hard  to  get  out' 

"These  things  were  mentioned  for  my  consideration 
during  the  twenty-four  hours  ;  but  the  impression  upon 
my  mind  was  so  strong,  that  if  the  government  had 
threatened  to  send  me  to  prison  in  irons,  as  yet  I  durst 
not  consent  to  go." 

This  conversation  explains  the  grounds  upon  which 
Mr  Dow  was  received  so  coldly  by  the  Irish  preachers, 
and  upon  which  the  Conference  afterwards  voted  to  af- 
ford him  no  countenance.  Though  this  determination 
hedged  up  the  way  of  an  individual  and  exposed  him  to 


LORENZO  DOW's  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  47 

many  inconveniencGS,  yet,  as  it  seemed  necessary,  in 
the  view  of  those  devoted  servants  of  Clirist — the  Meth- 
odist clerg-}',  to  secure  ths  good  of  the  cause  at  large, 
we  cannot  but  concur  with  their  resolution.  For,  the 
promotion  of  tJie  general  good  deserved  more  regard, 
than  the  wishes  of  one  individual,  and  he,  one  of  the 
most  odd  and  eccentric  of  his  race.  As  to  the  reality  of 
his  impressions  we  pass  no  opinion,  except  to  remark 
that  Mr.  Dow  was  evidently  a  man  of  great  nervous  sen- 
sibility, and  peculiarly  vivid  imagination — how  easy  with 
such  a  mental  temperament  to  mistake'the  wanderings 
of  desire  for  the  dictates  of  a  heavenly  teacher. 

At  this  period  of  his  wanderings  Mr.  Dqw  published 
a  short  account  of  his  christian  and  ministerial  experi- 
ence, in  a  pamphlet  of  twenty  pages.  He  gratuitously 
distributed  an  edition  of  about  three  thousand  of  this, 
his  maiden,  literary  performance. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

Lorenzo's    further    travels    in  Ireland  and  re- 
turn  TO   AMERICA. 

On  the  first  Sabbath  in  August  (1800)  as  Lorenzo  was 
returning  from  a  meeting  he  had  held  in  the  Barracks, 
he  was  taiven  violently  sick.  Upon  reaching  his  lodg- 
ing it  was  ascertained,  that,  that  hateful  disease,  the 
spiall  pox,  was  upon  him.  Upon  the  recommendation 
of  a  Quakeress,  a  physician  named  Johnson  was  sent 
for,  who,  having  conceived  some  curiosity  concerning 
Mr.  Bow,  readily  responded  to  bis  call,  and  afterward* 
became  his  fast  friend  and  helper.    This  gentleman  at- 


48  THE  ECCENTRIC  PREACHER  I    OR 

tended  him  through  his  painful  and  dangerous  sickness 
of  forty-four  days,  with  unwearied  assiduity.  He  even 
had  liiin  removed  to  his  own  residence  as  soon  as  his 
strength  permitted  the  removal.  During  this  long  afflic- 
tion the  wants  of  Mr.  Dow  were  abundantly  supplied  by 
the  spontaneous  liberality  of  the  people. 

His  state  of  mind  during  this  trying  affliction  may  be 
learned  from  the  following  extract  from  his  journal : 

"Here  I  despaired  of  life  and  expected  to  die  ;  but  the 
Lord  was  as  precious  to  my  soul  as  ever.  Three  things 
I  desired  to  live  for.  1st,  I  wanted  to  attain  higher  de- 
grees of  holiness,  that  I  might  be  happier  hereafter; — 
2nd,  I  felt  the  worth  of  souls  and  an  anxious  desire  to  be 
useful  to  them  ;  3rd,  I  wished  to  see  my  parents  once 
more,  lest  when  they  heard  of  my  death  it  would  bring 
them  to  the  grave  in  sorrow.  What  I  wished  to  die  for, 
was  to  get  out  of  tliis  troublesome  world  and  to  be  at 
rest  with  the  saints  above ;  yet,  I  felt  resigned  to  go  or 
stay  as  God  should  see  fit:  sensibly  feeling  the  presence 
of  God  and  reading  my  title  clear  to  the  mansions  of 
glory  ;  the  very  sting  of  death  was  gone,  so  that  it  ap- 
peared no  more  for  me  to  die,  than  to  fall  asleep  and 
take  a  nap." 

Of  the  Doctor  who  so  kindly  entertained  him  Mr  Dow 
says, 

"  I  think  of  all  the  people  I  have  met  with  during  four 
years  and  severi  months'  travel,  this  doctor  has  shewn 
me  the  greatest  kindness  and  friendship :  for  which  may 
God  reward  him  in  the  day  of  eternity." 

Becoming  convalescent,  Lorenzo  exerted  himself  to 
obtain  the  use  of  a  meeting  house.  He  was  refused  by 
several,  but  at  length  procured  the  use  of  a  Hall  belong- 
ing to  the  Kilhamites  or  Methodist  New  Connection. — 
There  he  held  several  meetings,  without  any  special  ef- 
fect 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  49 

A  letter  from  Rev.  S.  Hutchinson  to  A.  Hamilton,  re- 
specting his  character  in  America,  was  received  about 
this  time  and  proved  of  essential  service  in  removing  the 
gathering  prejudices  of  the  people  in  Dublin. 

His  health  continuing  to  improve  he  resolved  to  leave 
.this  hospitable  city  and  visit  the  country  towns  and  vil- 
lages. 

He  now  continued  his  itinerating  practice  and  visited 
Rathcoal,  Lucan,  Athy,  Carlow,  Hacket's  town,  Tinne- 
hely,  Killiveany,  Rednah,  Roundwood,  Castle-caven 
and  Echon,  holding  meetings  and  visiting  in  his  usual 
curious  manner,  but  meeting  with  nothing  peculiarly 
•worthy  of  being  recorded. 

At  Echon  he  met  with  the  Rev.  AI.  Lanktree,  the 
Methodist  preacher  on  that  circuit.  He  treated  Mr.  Dow 
with  great  kindness  and  with  much  christian  courtesy, 
giving  him  liberty  to  travel  any  part  of  his  field  of  labor. 
He  begged  Lorenzo  to  accept  a  razor  and  to  remove  his 
beard ;  this  however  he  declined,  stating  that  "  some- 
thing within  prevented  him,  as  it  was  a  guard,  sentry,  or 
watch  to  remind  me  of  duty,  and  that  if  ever  I  fell  away, 
I  should  never  be  reclaimed." 

Of  this  devoted  minister,  Mr.  Dow  has  recorded  this 
honorable  testimony:  "He,  I  think,  is  one  of  the  holiest 
men  I  have  met  with  in  Ireland." 

From  Echon  he  proceeded  to  Arklow,  Carnew,  Cas- 
tletown, Ballymurtah,  Clough,  Ross,  and  •  many  other 
places,  and  as  Waterford  "  had  lain  on  his  mind"  for 
several  weeks,  he  set  out  to  visit  it  His  reception  here 
we  will  give  in  his  own  words.  On  reaching  the  city, 
he  called  on  the  pi-eacher,  Mr.  Z.  Worrell.  Of  him  he 
says : 

"He  gave  me  the  right  hand  of  fellowship.  I  told 
him  look  out  what  he  did,  lest  others  should  blame  him. 


50  THE  ECCENTRIC  PREACHER  I    OR 

I  spoke  at  night,  and  on  Sabbath  morning  too.  On 
Monday  evening,  through  the  intercession  of  the  lead-  , 
ers,  I  held  a  third  meeting,  and  appointed  a  fourth.  The 
house  was  well  filled,  and  in  the  congregation  were  sev- 
eral Quakers.  There  was  considerable  movement  among 
the  people. 

"In  Pill-town,  M-e  had  a  shaking'  thne:  here,  I  pasted 
some  printed  rules  for  holy  living  in  the  streets,  as  I  had 
done  written  ones  in  several  other  places. 

"At  Capperquin,  I  put  up  at  a  Roman  Catholic's, 
which  took  all  the  money  I  had,  amounting  to  2s.  6d. 
English ;  and  on  my  way  to  Tallow,  the  next  day,  a 
magistrate  overtook  me,  and  asked  me, 

"'What  have  you  got  in  that  bundle.^ 

" '  Papers,'  I  replied. 

" '  What  papers  ?'  asked  he. 

"'Rules  for  holy  living.' 

"'Where  did  you  sleep  last  night?' 

"  'Capperquin.' 

"'You  have  made  good  speed  this  morning — where 
was  you  born  ?' 

" '  North  America.' 

"  'What  did  you  come  here  after  .^' 

"'Partly  on  account  of  my  health,  and  partly  by  an 
impression  on  my  mind,  believing  it  to  be  the  will  of 
God.' 

"'And  what  do  you  do  here?' 

"'I  strive  to  persuade  people  to  serve  God.' 

"  '  Well,  that  is  a  good  practice,  but  do  you  meet  with 
much  success  ?' 

"'I  am  striving  to  do  what  I  can,  but  it  is  the  Spirit 
of  God  that  must  accomplish  the  work.' 

"He  then  proposed  sever  il  of  the  questions  again  and 
again,  with  some  others ;  I  suppose  to  see  if  I   would 


LO^E^•zo  Dow's  life  and  travels.  5J 

contradict  myself.  I  then  g^ave  him  a  paper  and  a  pam- 
phlet, and  told  him  if  he  wanted  further  information  to 
search  me. 

"He  said,  'There  are  many  who  go  about  to  stir  up 
the  minds  of  the  lower  class,  but  my  mmd  is  satisfied 
corcorning  you  ;'  and  so  he  rode  on." 

His  visit  to  Cork  was  somewhat  trying  to  his  feelings. 
He  thus  describes  it; 

"i  went  to  the  assistant  minister,  and  asked  him, 

"  '  What  privilege  will  you  grant  me  ?' 

"  Ho  replied,  '  Go  away,  and  come  at  such  an  hour, 
and  I  will  tell  you.' 

"Calling  again,  he  said,  'I  iiave  talked  with  some  of 
our  most  respectable  friends,  who  think  it  not  pro{)er  to 
give  you  any  encouragement,  as  it  would  be  too  great 
encouragement  to  iniposters,  and  we  think  you  to  be  out 
of  your  sphere.' 

"'Eut,'said  I,  'suppose  I  hold  meetings  in  town  not 
to  intrude  upon  your  meeting  hours,  nor  yet  say  any 
thing  against  you,  neither  lay  down  contrary  doctrines  ?' 

"He  replied,  'It  will  be  taken  as  opposition,  if  you 
hold  any  meetings,  any  where,  at  any  time,  here.'  So  I 
parted  wiih  him. 

"  Sabbath  morning,  I  heard  one. preach,  and  then  by 
impression  upon  my  mind  took  upwards  of  a  hundred  of 
my  handbills  or  printed  rules,  and  went  through  the 
town  distributing  them.  The  next  morning,  feeling  the 
need  of  some  money,  1  attempted  to  sell  my  watch,  but 
could  find  none  that  would  buy  it  At  length,  I  went 
into  another  watch-maker's,  who  looked  at  me,  and  said, 

"'Tell  me  your  cheapest  price.' 

"I  said,  '  A  guinea,'  it  being  not  half  its  value.  He 
asked  me  what  countryman  I  was.  I  burst  out  a  crying, 
and  he  gave  me  a  breakfast,  a  guinea  and  a  shilling; 


52         THE  ECCENTRIC  preacher:  OR 

and  I  gave  him  a  pamphlet  and  paper,  and  requested  a 
guide  out  of  town.  I  gave  the  guide  half  a  guinea  to 
carry  to  the  man  who  had  provided  my  bed  and  board, 
as  lie  had  a  wife  and  three  others  of  his  family  sick  at 
the  time." 

From  Cork,  he  went  to  Brandon,  much  discouraged, 
but,  after  a  few  days,  gained  much  favor  with  the  people 
there.  From  thence,  he  sailed  to  Dublin,  where  he  ar- 
rived after  an  absence  of  eleven  weeks  and  two  days, 
having  travelled,  by  land  and  water,  about  seven  hun- 
dred English  miles.  Here  he  was  cordially  received  by 
his  old  friend,  Doctor  Johnson. 

From  Dublin,  he  wrote  tlie  following  letter  to  the 
preacher  who  had  repulsed  him  at  Cork.  We  insert  it  as 
an  illustration  of  his  character  and  feelings. 

''I  don't  see  how  you  could  in  justice  take  it  as  wick- 
ed opposition,  if  I  did,  nor  said  nothing  against  the  Meth- 
odists, provided  I  held  meetings,  without  judging  me 
hard.  I  acknowledge  that  you  treated  me  with  less  se- 
verity in  hard  words,  than  I  expected:  but  lest  you 
should  write  letters  before  me,  and  hedge  up  my  way,  I 
left  Cork  as  I  did.  And  now,  remember  if  souls  be  lost 
in  consequence  of  it,  that  will  lie  at  your  door;  for  God 
knows,  if  I  could  have  kept  my  peace  of  mind,  I  would 
not  have  left  America,  but  in  tender  conscience,  I  was 
constrained  to  come." 

The  reception  of  this  laconic  note  is  thus  described. 
The  bearer,  delivering  it, remarked  to  him,  "Sir,  here  is 
a  letter  from  Lorenzo." 

The  preacher  replied,  "  Oh,  is  he  in  Kinsale  ?  (Reads 
the  letter  without  changing  countenance.)  He  is  dis- 
pleased because  I  did  not  let  him  preach.  Did  he  preach 
in  Kinsale?" 

"  Yes,  sir,  to  large  congregations,  and  a  prospect  of 
good." 


53 

"I'm  glad  there  is  a  good  prospect — he  has  been  a 
zealous  preacher  in  America,  and  came  away  against 
rule  or  order  of  his  assistant — he  follows  his  own  feel- 
ings too  much — he  is  quakerized." 

"I  believe,"  replied  the  bearer,  "he  is  led  by  the  dic- 
tates of  the  Spirit,  for  his  labors  are  owned  of  God." 

"Poor  man,  he  fatigues  himself — I  told  him  he  ouffht 
not  to  walk  so  much.     I  bid  him  call  on  me  in  the  morn-  ' 
ing  in  order  to  give  him  some  aid,  but  was  too  ill  to  see 
him." 

"  I  don't  think  Lorenzo  would  accept  of  it,  sir !  he  is 
not  a  burden  to  any  of  our  societies." 

"I  hear  he  is  abstemious  and  will  not  take  sufficient 
nourishment.  He  won't  take  clothes,  and  such  a  poor 
figure  as  he  cuts!  Why  when  he  went  to  Brandon  and 
stood  at  the  people's  door,  they  could  not  tell  what  to 
make  of  him":  and  the  preacher  concluded  his  remarks 
about  the  letter." 

Mr.  Dow  spent  the  greater  part  of  January  1801  in 
the  city  of  Dublin.  By  the  aid  of  one,  Alice  Cambridge, 
an  expelled  Methodist,  he  obtained  the  use  of  a  large 
room  and  preached  about  thirty  times  during  his  stay. — 
The  following  curious  extract  exhibits  his  peculiar  mode 
of  endeavoring  to  excite  religious  attention. 

"  Having  it  impressed  upon  my  mind  to  give  the  peo- 
ple of  Dublin  a  general  warning,  and  believing  the 
judgments  of  God  were  hanging  over  the  place,  I  got 
about  three  thousand  handbills  printed,  such  as  lay  up- 
on my  mind,  and  the  greatest  part  I  distributed  among 
the  quality  and  decent  kind  of  people.  One  I  enclosed 
in  a  letter,  and  gave  it  to  a  sentinel  in  the  castle  yard, 
for  the  Lord-lieutenant ;  but,  fearing  he  would  not  get 
it,  I  got  another  framed  and  directed  in  gilt  letters  "for 
the  Lord-lieutenant,"  sealed  it  in  black  wax  and  paper, 


54         THE  ECCENTRIC  PREACHER:  OR 

and  tied  tape  round  it — this  I  left  in  the   porter's  lodge. 

"  I  got  two  others  framed  in  black  and  directed  in 
gold  letters,  one  for  the  merchants,  the  other  for  the 
lawyers.  The  first  I  hung  up  in  the  Royal  Exchange  ; 
the  other  I  left  on  the  floor  in  sight  of  the  lawyers  in  the 
hall  of  the  four  courts  and  walked  out." 

He  also  left  a  pamphlet  in  all  the  letter  boxes  at  the 
colleg(.';  and  then  feeling  his  "mind  free  of  the  city" 
he  left  it  on  the  1st  of  February,  on  another  route  inio 
the  country.  During  this  trip,  of  more  than  six  weeks, 
he  visited  Tullamore,  Bin,  Tuam,  Hollemount,Castlebar, 
Nappogh,  Pullagh,  Capparico,  Foxford,  Ballina,  Sligo 
Dungannon,  Lisburn  and  Belfast,  preachnig,  visiting  and 
distributing  his  handbills  with  his  Avonted  energy  and 
eccentricity  of  manner. 

From  Belfast,  he  proceeded  to  Dublin,  and  feeling  as 
if  his  work  in  Ireland  was  accomplished,  for  the  present, 
he  .prepared  to  return  to  America.  On  this  occasion,  his 
faithful  friend  Dr.  Johnson  befriended  him  and  procured 
him  abundant  means  for  a  comfortable  passage  home  ; 
and  on  the  2nd  of  April  (1801)  he  sailed  from  Dublin 
for  New  York  on  board  the  ship  Venus  :  after  a  tedious 
passage  of  forty-seven  days  he  arrived  at  the  quarantine 
ground  at  Staten  Island. 

Upon  landing  in  New  York,  he  was  cordially  receiv- 
ed by  his  old  friend  Rev.  S.  Hutchinson  and  some  oth- 
ers, and  after  much  halting  and  debating  of  the  qnes- 
tion  in  his  mind,  he  concluded  to  accept  a  station  from 
the  conference,  though,  he  says,  "I  had  no  sooner  con- 
sented, the  Lord  being  my  helper,  than  an  awful  distress 
came  over  my  mind  "  However  he  remained  true  to  his 
promise,  and  was  received  into  his  former  standing  by 
the  conference  (on  trial)  and  appointed  to  Dutchess  and 
Colombia  circuit,  N.  Y.,  with  David  Brown  and  William 


LORENZO  DOw's  LIFJE  A>D  TRAVELS.  55 

Thatcher — his  presidin;^  elder  was  Freeborn  Garretson. 
He  thus  describes  his  reception  on  tliis  circuit: 

"Distressed,  I  sailed  to  Rhinebeck.  When  I  arrived 
at  the  Flats  I  called  at  a  Methodist's  and  got  a  meeting- 
appointed  for  the  night.  One  of  the  principal  membera 
came  and  inquired, 

"  '  Who  is  stationed  on  our  circuit  ?' 
"I  replied,  'Brown,  Thatcher  and  Dow.' 
"Said  he,  'Dow!  I  thought  he  had  gone  to  Ireland.' 
"  I  answered,  '  He  has  been  there  but  has  lately  como 
back.' 

"'Dow!  Dow  I'  he  remarked  again,  'he  will  break 
up  the  circuit.' 

"  So  we  parted.  After  meeting,  f  appointed  another 
at  the  new  meeting  house,  then  building,  which  tried 
them  at  my  boldness  they  not  knowing  me.  Next  day 
some  desired  to  know  my  name,  which  I  desired  to  be 
excused  from  telling.  I  held  a  number  of  meetings  in 
this  place  yet  1  could  not  speak  with  life  and  power  as 
formerly,  but  felt  as  if  I  was  delivering  my  message  to 
the  wrong  people.  For  it  had  been  in  my  mind  to  re- 
turn to  my  native  town  and  there  begixi  and  travel  ex- 
tensively." 

For  tiie  first  quarter  he  regularly  visited  the  appoint-  • 
ments  on  his  circuit,  and  after  the  first  quanerly  meet- 
ing he  visited  his  parents  in  Connecticut.  Here,  he  was 
kindly  received,  but  he  says  they  expected  too  much  of 
him.  From  Coventry  he  went  to  Norwich,  New  Lon- 
don, Middletown,  and  New  Hartford.  At  the  latter 
place,  he  hired  a  ball  room  and  spoke  to  a  promiscuous 
audience  from,  'After  I  have  spoken,  mock  on.'  Here 
he  met  with  some  disputants  on  the  subject  of  predesti- 
nation, &c.,  but  he  put  them  to  silence  by  saying, 
"  If  all  things  are  foreordained,  it  was  foreordained 


56  THE  r.ccr.NTRtn  preacher:  or 

that  I  should  talk  as  I  do  ;  and  you  are  not  reconciled  to 
it,  and  of  course  are  not  christians,  but  deceiving  your- 
selves, according  to  your  own  doctrine." 

He  then  returned  to  his  circuit  and  entered  upon  his 
duties,  with  his  mind  still  distressed  and  a  severe  pain 
in  his  side.  This  pain  increased,  and  on  the  seventh  day 
an  ulcer  broke  on  his  lungs  and  he  became  very  weak 
in  body.  This  weakness  increased  until  he  had  hardly 
strength  sufficient  to  meet  his  appointments.  This,  he 
imagined  to  be  an  evidence  that  he  was  out  of  his  sphere. 
At  the  next  Quarterly  meeting,  on  the  24th  and  25th  of 
October,  he  was  directed  by  the  presiding  elder  to  labor 
on  Litchfield  circuit,  (Conn.)  He  accordingly  preached 
at  Litchfield,  Milton,  Kent,  New  Milford,  Washington, 
Woodbury,  Goshen,  Winchester,  Bristol,  Farmington, 
Northington,  Granby,  Barkhemstead,  Hartland  Hollow, 
Colebrook  and  Winstead,  and  remained  on  the  circuit 
until  the  quarterly  meeting  of  November  21st  and  22nd. 
His  mind  was  still  powerfully  exercised  on  the  sub- 
ject of  quitting  his  circuit:  he  says  he  felt  it  to  be  his 
duty  to  travel  at  large  on  the  continent.  Still  he  wag 
unwilling  to  expose  himself  to  the  censure  of  the  con- 
ference. 

At  the  quarterly  meeting  for  the  circuit,  he  tried  to 
obtain  the  consent  of  Mr.  Garretson  to  visit  the  South. 
"But,"  he  says  in  his  journal,  "Gairetson,  my  spiritual 
grandfather,  would  not  consent ;  but  offered  me  a  lo- 
cation on  the  circuit,  if  I  would  say  I  could  travel  no 
longer.  At  length,  I  strove  to  get  him  to  say,  if  it  was 
the  opinion  of  brother  Moriarty  that  my  health  was  de- 
clining, he  would  not  charge  me  with  disobedience  at  the 
next  Conference — he  replied,  yon  must  not  labor  in  your 
usual  way,  but  like  other  preachers,  i.  e.  filling  the  reg- 
ular appointments  only — and  thus  it  was  left." 


LORENZO  DOW^S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  57 

After  this  meetin<T,  he  again  visited  his  parents  and 
communicated  his  design  of  visiting  the  South.  To  his 
surprise,  they  did  not  oppose  it,  though  they  preferred 
to  have  him  remain  in  the  regular  work.  Feeling  him- 
self unable  to  supply  the  appointments  on  his  circuit,  he 
got  a  brother  Fox  to  fill  them  and  made  arrangements 
for  his  departure  to  the  South.  He  was  unable  to  see 
Mr.  Moriarty,  whose  opinion  respecting  his  journey  he 
wished  to  obtain.  Ills  license  having  been  so  written 
by  Mr.  Garretson,  that  it  would  only  answer  for  Dutch- 
ess and  Colombia  circuit,  he  destroyed  it,  and  thus  left 
himself  barren  of  a«l  recommendations,  when  on  the  eve 
of  his  departure  to  a  distant  and  strange  part  of  the  land. 

On  the  ninth  of  December,  Mr.  Dow  set  out  on  his 
uncertain  journey.  He  went  to  New  York,  preaching 
at  New  Haven  on  his  way.  From  New  York  he  sailed 
with  Captain  Peleg  Latham  to  Savannah,  where  he 
landed  on  the  eighth  of  January,  1802, 

He  had  procured  the  means  for  this  voyage  and  for 
purchasing  a  horse  by  the  sale  of  a  library  of  books  giv- 
en him  when  he  left  Dublin  by  his  never-failing  friend 
Dr.  Johnson  ;  but  after  he  paid  his  passage  and  his 
friends  had  furnished  him  with  provisions,  he  had  but 
one  dollar  and  a  half  remaining :  his  feelings,  during 
this  expedition,  may  be  learned  from  the  following  ex- 
tracts : 

"Natural  and  human  prospects  appear  dark:  Avhat  is 
before  me  I  know  not;  my  trust  is  in  God.  My  trials 
are  keen — indeed  it  is  a  trial  of  my  faith  to  go ;  but  Je- 
sus is  precious  to  my  soul.  There  is  but  one  in  all 
Georgia,  that  I  know,  I  have  seen  before,  Hope  Hull,  my 
spiritual  father,  and  to  him  I  never  spoke." 

He  thus  describes  his  reception  in  Savannah: 

"Friday,  8th.    I  landed  in  Savannah  and  walked 


58  THE  ECCEiNTRIC  PREACKEK:    OR 

through  the  town.  I  found  a  burying  ground,  where  I 
spent  an  liourin  prayer  and  thanksgiving  for  n)y  deliver- 
ance and  for  a  prosperous  journey.  I  inquired  for  Weth- 
odists,  but  found  no  regular  ones  in  town.  But  one  of 
Hammet's  party,  Adam  C.  Cloud,  a  preaclie?,  gave  me 
the  liberty  of  his  preaching  house  that  night,  in  which  I 
spoke  to  about  seventy  whites  and  blacks.'^ 

He  also  preached  oa  the  following  Sunday  and  Mon- 
day evenings  in  the  African  meeting  house :  speaking  of 
the  colored  preasher,  he  says  : 

"Andrew,  the  black  preacher,  had  been  imprisoned 
and  whipped  until  the  blood  ran  down,  for  preaching,  as 
the  people  wished  to  expel  religion  Irom  the  place,  he 
being  the  only  preacher  in  town.  The  whites  at  length 
sent  a  petition  to  the  Legislature  for  permission  for  him 
to  preach,  w^hich  was  granted.     Said  he  (Andrew)  to  me; 

*My  father  lived  to  be  an  hundred  and  five  years  old, 
and  1  am  seventy,  and  God  of  late  has  been  doing  great 
things  for  us.  I  have  about  seven  hundred  in  my  church,- 
and  now  I  am  willing  to  live  or  die  as  God  shall  see 
fit'" 

The  white  hearers  of  Mr.  Dow  offered  him  a  collec- 
tion, -which  he,  as  usual,  refused,  lest  his  motives  should 
be  impugned.  But  old  Andrew  placed  eleven  dollars 
and  a  half  in  his  hand,  as  ho  was  leaving  town,  w  hich 
he  accepted.  He  also  found  two  dollars  among  the  frag- 
ments of  his  provisions,  left  at  the  close  of  his  voyage, 
which  he  supposed  his  friends  in  New  York  had  placed 
there  for  his  assistance.  With  this  timely  aid,  he  set  out 
from  Savannah. 

Tt  should  have  been  remarked,  that  Mr.  Dow's  health 
had  visibly  improved  during  his  voyage ;  his  cough  had 
left  him  and  his  strength  was  rapidly  returning. 

On  the  Sabbath  after  he  left  Savannah,  he  preached 


LORENZO  DOW's  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  59 

at  Pukisaking',  tliough  at  first,  he  was  strongly  suspected 
of  being  an  impostor  ;  but  finding  liis  name  on  the  min- 
utes they  were  satisfied.  In  preaching,  he  says,  the 
"melting  power  of  God  was  felt  and  tears  were  rolling 
on  every  side."  Here  too,  the  people  compelled  him  to 
take  several  dollars  in  money. 

On  the  20th  of  the  month  (January)  he  reached  Au- 
gusta where  he  was  received  very  coolly,  at  first,  and 
was  unable  to  procure  lodgings:  but,  as  he  was  about 
to  seek  the  shelter  of  a  grove  of  trees,  a  negro  followed 
him  with  an  oflTer  of  entertainment  from  his  mistress, 
which  he  accepted.  After  a  day  or  two,  he  crossed  the 
river  to  Camelton,  where  he  held  several  meetings. — 
From  thence  he  went  to  Ucher  and  Upton  creeks  and 
held  meetings  with  good  eflfect.  On  the  10th  of  Febru- 
ary he  arrived  at  Hope  Hull's,  his  spiritual  father.  "I 
found  him,"  says  Lorenzo,  "  in  a  corn-house  and  saluted 
him  with  'How  do  you  do,  father  ?'  His  reply  was  some- 
what cool,  but  he  agreed  to  make  me  an  appointment  in 
the  court  house.  After  breakfast,  before  he  had  started 
for  town,  I  took  a  quantity  of  handbills,  and  running 
through  the  woods  got  to  town  first,  distributed  them 
among  the  people  and  cleared  out  before  he  arrived. — 
This  made  a  great  hubbub  among  the  people,  no  one 
knew  who  I  was,  or  where  I  came  from  ;  but  "when  he 
came  in  to  make  the  appointment,  he  unfolded  the  riddle 
and  this  brouglit  ll^&ny  out  to  hear.  Next  night,  I  spoke 
again,  and  the  latter  congregation  was  larger  than  tho 
first.  A  young  clergyman  from  Connecticut,  after  I  had 
done,  voluntarily  made  a  flowery  prayer,  in  which  he 
gave  me  a  broadside. 

"Hope  Hull  intreated  me  to  return  to  New  England, 
and  -igree  to  take  a  circuit,  and  wander  no  more.  He 
said  many  things  that  discouraged  me  much,  when  I 


60         THE  ECCENTRIC  PREACHER  :  OR 

gave  way  to  roasoning ;  but,  when  I  put  my  confidence  in 
God,  and  submitted  the  matter  to  Him,  I  felt  peace  and 
happiness  of  mind,  and  courage  to  go  forward. 

"  Hope  Hull  also  gave  me  a  paper,  directing  me  where 
to  call.  I  cautioned  him  on  what  he  did,  lest  he  should 
be  censured  for  opening  my  way ;  said  he,  'I  leave  eve- 
ry man  to  paddle  his  own  canoe  I'" 

He  next  proceeded  to  Gfeensboroiigh  and  Oglethorpe, 
where  he  held  meetings ;  and  at  the  latter  place  a  negro 
woman  fell,  as  if  dead,  in  the  meeting,  under  the  influ- 
ence of  his  subject.  Thence,  he  travelled  to  Franklin, 
Elberton,  and  Petersburg.  At  this  latter  place,  he  was 
kindly  received  by  one  Mr.  Solomon  Roundtree,  who, 
says  Mr.  D.  "showed  me  the  greatest  kindness  of  any 
man  since  T  came  South."  Thence,  he  went  to  Vienna, 
and  other  places,  holding  meetings  and  distributing 
handbills  on  the  way.  On  the  7th  of  March,  he  again 
reached  Augusta.  Here  he  was  kindly  received  by  a 
Mr.  Waddle,  a  Presbyterian  clergyman,  and  Slith  Mead, 
the  Methodist  preacher.  He  preached  during  the  week, 
with  much  power  and  effect.  He  says,  "solemn  coun- 
tenances were  soon  seen  in  the  streets." 

A  curious  instance  of  his  eccentricity  occurred  while 
he  remained  in  this  vicinity :  we  give  it  in  his  own 
words : 

"  On  Wednesday  evening,  we  had  a  meeting  in  Har- 
risburg.  On  Thursday  evening,  the  man  who  had  just 
finished  a  job  about  the  meeting  house,  kept  the  key,  so 
that  it  was  with  much  difficulty  we  obtained  it:  he  as- 
signed as  the  reason,  arrearage  of  pay.  We  told  the 
people  of  It.  I  mentioned,  that  1  esteemed  it  a  privilege 
to  have  such  a  house  to  hold  meetings  in,  and  for  my 
ehare,  felt  willing  to  give  ten  dollars  towards  the  defi- 
ciency, and  if  they  would  come  forward  and  subscribe 


61 

liberally,  perhaps  they  might  not  feel  the  loss  of  it,  for 
God  might  bless  them  accordingly.  We  got  upwards 
of  seventy  dollars  that  night.  I  told  the  youth,  if  they 
would  come  to  a  prayer  meeting  next  evening,  I  would 
give  them  some  hymn  books.  About  six  hundred  per- 
sons came  out;  to  whom  I  gave  seventy  hymn  books, 
making  about  a  hundred  in  all.  Sunday  afternoon,  I 
gave  my  last  dibcourse  in  Augusta,  and  then  requested 
those  who  were  determined  to  set  out  and  seek  God,  to 
let  me  take  their  names  in  writing,  that  I  might  remem- 
ber them  in  my  devotions  when  gone.  About  seventy, 
who  had  been  careless,  came  forward." 

The  next  morning,  he  set  out  for  Charleston,  from 
which  place  he  had  resolved  to  embark  for  New  York, 
as  his  mind  now  directed  him  thither.  On  his  way,  he 
found  it  difficult  to  procure  lodging  at  nights :  people 
were  afraid  and  suspicious  of  him,  such  was  his  strange 
and  uncouth  appearance.  At  last,  he  succeeded  in 
reaching  Charleston  on  the  22nd  of  March.  Here,  he 
was  kindly  received,  and  held  several  meetings,  at  one 
of  which  upwards  of  two  thousand  persons  attended. 
Among  his  friends  in  this  place,  he  makes  honorable 
mention  of  Messrs.  Mathews,  Monds  and  Terpin.  After 
remaining  a  few  days,  he  sailed  from  Charleston  in  a 
vessel  bound  to  New  York. 

Thus  ended  this  arduous  journey  through  a  consider- 
able portion  of  Georgia.  The  most  of  his  travelling  was 
performed  on  foot.  When  we  consider  his  pecuniary 
circumstances ;  his  want  of  credentials ;  his  almost  total 
unacquaintance  with  the  inhabitants ;  the  obstacles  he 
had  to  contend  against,  arising  from  suspicions,  curios- 
ity, and  opposition  to  his  anti-disciplinary  course  ;  and 
then  behold  him  gaining  access  to  thousands  of  hearers, 
and  see  him  successfully  preaching  the  gospel  of  Christ, 


()2         THE  ECCENTRIC  PREACHEH  :  OR 

we  can  but  agree,  that  Lorenzo  was  a  man  of  a  most  in- 
domitable perseverance — of  untiring  energry.  The  same 
remark  might,  with  equal  justice,  and  with  perhaps  more 
force,  be  made  respecting  his  visit  to  Ireland. 


CHAPTER  V. 

HIS    SOUTHERN    TOUR. 

On  the  8th  of  April,  Mr.  Dow  landed  in  New  York. 
Two  days  after,  he  was  seized  with  an  inflammatory  fe- 
ver, and  lay  confined  at  the  house  of  brother  Quacken- 
•bush.     Of  his  state  of  mind  while  thus  afflicted,  he  says : 

*'  The  sting  of  death  was  gone,  and  sometimes  I  turned 
my  thoughts  on  future  joys,  and  realized  that  some  of 
my  spiritual  children  had  gone  before  and  I  still  absent 
from  Jesus.  O  how  did  my  soul  wish  to  be  in  those 
sweet  realms  above.  But  then,  turning  my  thoughts  on 
time,  I  considered  the  value  of  souls,  and  that  poor  sin- 
ners were  in  the  dangerous,  dark,  blind  road,  and  I  felt 
resigned  to  go  or  stay  as  God  should  see  fit." 

After  twelve  days'  affliction,  he  recovered.  The 
preachers  in  the  city,  he  says,  were  shy,  but  he  obtained 
permission  to  preach  in  the  state  prison.  He  addressed 
the  prisoners  several  times,  and  a  few  of  them  manifest- 
ed deep  contrition  of  heart  under  his  appeals.  Then, 
finding  a  vessel  about  to  sail  for  Middletown,  (Conn.) 
he  embarked  without  a  cent  to  pay  his  passage  ;  but  the 
captain,  though  a  stranger,  charged  him  nothing.  Reach- 
ing New  Haven,  he  debarked  and  preached ;  some  threw 


L0REN20  roVs  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  €3 

iStones  :ii  him,  but  one  irrelifrious  younn-  man  jjave  hira 
a  dollar,  with  which  he  succeeded  in  travelling  to  Mid- 
rdleto^^n. 

litre,  he  was  kindly  received,  and  hold  seventeen 
meetinw-*?.  On  the  22nd,  he  visited  Eastbury,  and  was, 
as  he  says,  "  treated  with  friendship  sevon  times  more 
than  I  expected,  particularly  by  Elder  Broadhead,  who 
hid  written  to  me  in  Europe  a  friendly  letter,  stating 
that  iiciny  preachers  and  people  in  my  native  land  wish- 
ed to  s^e  my  face  again." 

"Siuiiay,  SSd,  I  was  permitted  to  preach  for  the  first 
time  it  a  quarterly  meeting,  and  the  meltinrr  power  of 
<jrod  H'  is  present.  I  sent  forward  about  threescore  a,{>- 
point.iK^nts  to  different  parts  of  the  state,  thouyh  I  saw 
no  way  how  I  could  get  on  to  fulfil  them.  Houever, 
Provid^'nce  provided  a  way.  Abner  Wood,  one  of  the 
prearh<rri5,  having  an  extra  horse,  offered  it  to  me  very 
reason  i:»ie:  so  T  gave  him  an  order  for  eighteen  dollars 
I  ha. I  left  in  Mr.  Garretson's  hands,  and  let  him  take  a 
watch,  a  woman  liad  given  me  just  as  I  left  Ireland,  at 
what  price  it  should  be  thought  proper.  Brother  Bur- 
rows gave  me  a  saddle,  and  John  Nicholes  a  whip." 

About  this  time,  he  was  deeply  convicted  of  the  need 
of  a  deeper  work  of  grace  in  his  heart,  and  meeting  with 
Calvin  Woster,  he  explained  to  him  the  way  of  obtain- 
ing s  Mirtification  by  fjiilh.  With  his  usual  persever- 
ance, he  sought  this  great  privilege  of  the  gospel — nor 
<iid  he  seek  in  vain.  While  groanmg  out  his  desirei?  to 
<jod.  he  says,  "the  burden  dropped  from  my  breast,  and 
a  solid  joy  and  a  gentle  running  peace  filled  my  soul." 

Of  thfi  effects  of  this  blessing,  he  says:  "From  that 
time,  I  hive  not  had  that  e.xtasy  of  joy  or  that  downriist 
of  s[)irit  as  formerly,  but  more  of  an  inward,  simple, 
sweeu  running  peace  from  day  to  .day.     My  soul  is  more 


64  THE  ECCEJ^TRIC  preacher:    OR 

like  the  ocean,  whilst  its  sur.'ace  is  uneven  by  reason  of 
the  boisterous  wind,  the  bottom  is  still  calm.  So  a  man 
may  be  in  the  midst  of  outward  diiiiculties,  and  yet  the 
centre  of  the  soul  may  be  calmly  stayed  on  God. 

"Tuesday,  25th,  I  found  my  friends  well  in  Coventry 
— held  some  meetings,  and  then  proceeded  to  fulfil  the 
errand  I  felt  to  be  my  duty,  namely ;  to  travel  the  con- 
tinent at  large,  to  speak  on  certain  points,  which  I  con- 
ceived to  be  in  the  way,  to  the  no  small  injury  of  Christ's 
kingdom.  Gilead  and  Hebron  were  the  first  of  my  vis- 
itings  on  this  tour,  and  the  power  of  God  was  to  be  felt. 
Lord,  open  my  door,  and  prepare  my  way  through  the 
state." 

Lorenzo  now  recommenced  his  journeyings  to  and  fro. 
We  find  him  visiting  and  preaching  in  the  towns  of  Scot- 
land, Canterbury,  Preston,  Stonington,  Groton,  New 
London,  Colchester,  Andover,  Pomfret,  Thomson,  Brook- 
lyn, Franklin,  Norwich.  Sterling,  Plainfield  and  Bozrah. 
In  traversing  the  country  to  fulfil  these  appointments, 
he  says : 

"I  fell  in  with  the  bishops,  on  their  journey  to  the 
East.  Mr.  Asbury  was  more  friendly  than  I  expected, 
and  said  I  missed  it  in  not  stopping  at  the  New  York 
Conference,  where  perhaps  I  might  have  been  ordained : 
and,  he  added  further,  that  my  name  was  taken  off  the 
minutes,  as  they  kepi  none  on  but  such  as  travelled  reg- 
ularly. Mr.  Whatcoat  said,  we  should  join  as  one  mark 
to  go  forth  as  an  army  to  hold  each  other  up  ;  but  if  yoa 
attempt  to  travel  at  large,  you  will  meet  with  continual 
opposition  from  your  brethren,  and  this  will  have  a  ten- 
dency to  discourage  you,  and  weaken  your  hands,  and 
wean  you  from  your  brethren,  so  after  a  while  you  will 
fall  away."  Upon  this  meeting  he  makes  no  comment* 
in  his  journal,  but  it  appears,  from  his  subsequent  prac- 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  65 

tice,  that  he  still  remained  firm  to  his  purpose  of  travel- 
ling at  large. 

After  this  meeting  with  the  Bishops  he  again  traversed 
the  length  and  breadth  of  Connecticut,  in  his  usual  man- 
ner. At  the  close  of  this  tour,  he  was  offered  a  recom- 
mendation by  Rev.  Daniel  O'Strander  for  ^  local  dea- 
con's^ orders,  but  after  some  reflection  he  declined  it,  lest 
by  becoming  ordained,  he  should  render  himself  liable 
to  be  censured  for  breach  of  discipline,  in  his  erratic 
mode  of  life. 

After  "freeing  his  mind"  in  Connecticut  he  went  to 
New  York  in  a  very  destitute  condition,  being,  through 
an  accident,  without  a  change  of  clothing.  Here,  his 
wants  were  amply  supplied  by  a  gentleman  from  Geor- 
gia, Mr  Solomon  Roundtree,  who  accidentally  saw  him 
in  the  streets.  After  preaching  several  times  in  the  city 
of  New  York,  he  traversed  the  northern  part  of  the 
State,  and  from  thence  proceeded  to  Upper  Canada. — 
And  preaching  in  various  towns  on  his  route,  with  no 
occurrences  worthy  of  note,  he  returned  to  the  United 
States,  passing  through  the  northern  part  of  Vermont  in- 
to New  Hampshire  and  thence  into  Massachusetts. 

At  Boston  he  was  strongly  opposed  by  Rev.  T.  Lyell, 
then  stationed  there,  so,  after  a  short  stay,  he  left  and 
then  pursued  his  way  by  stage  and  on  foot  to  Connecti- 
cut, and  on  the  9th  of  November  reached  home. 

The  next  day  he  started  for  Georgia^  having,  beside 
an  old  mare  and  travelling  equipments,  tiveniy-Jive  cents 
in  his  purse.  At  Philadelphia  he  met  with  much  dis- 
couragement from  Messrs.  Cooper  and  Ware,  who,  he 
says,  "  hatchelledme  in  such  a  manner  as  I  never  was 
before."  From  Philadelphia  he  passed  on  to  Wihning- 
ton,  and  crossing  Delaware  he  arrived  in  Baltimore, 
where  the  preachers  all  discouraged  him. 


C6  THE  ECCENTRIC  PREACHER:  OR 

At  Georgetown  he  met  bishop  VVhatcoat  who,  he  says, 
"treated  me  with  love  and  tenderness,  and  told  me  where 
to  put  up  at  Alexandria  and  Dumfries."  At  Halifax,  he 
■was  taken  for  an  impostor,  and  when  he  reached  Stetes- 
ville.  North  Carolina,  he  was  so  reduced  as  to  be  com- 
pelled to  sell  his  watch.  Here,  he  met  with  tiie  Rev. 
Phillip  Bruce,  who  at  first  opposed  but  afterwards  be- 
friended him;  he  also  held  several  meetings  and  had 
several  dollars  given  him,  which  he  appropriated  to- 
wards the  purchase  of  a  horse,  his  own  having  been  ta- 
ken sick  on  the  road.  On  the  2d  of  February  (1803)  he 
reached  Petersburg  (Georgia),  where  he  was  at  once  re- 
cognized by  a  lad,  who  spread  the  report  that  "  the  ivalk- 
ing  preacher  had  got  back." 

During  the  months  of  February  and  March  he  visited 
a  considerable  part  of  Georgia,preaching  in  a  large  num- 
ber of  towns  and  villages  with  various  success.  At  one 
place,  the  Baptists  befriended  him  with  much  warmth 
and  kindness,  but  afterwards,  hearing  him  denounce  the 
doctrines  of  election  and  reprobation,  their  friendship 
turned  to  hatred  and  they  opposed  him  with  a  bitter  and. 
violent  opposition.  Upon  this,  his  friends  advised  him' 
to  prepare  his  thoughts  or  "  chain"  for  publication. 

He  now  determined  to  visit  the  Indian  country  west- 
ward of  Georgia.  Accordingly,  the  kindness  of  his 
friends  having  furnished  him  with  a  pass  from  the  Gov- 
ernor, with  a  good  horse,  an  ample  supply  of  clothing,  a 
valuable  watch,  and  a  purse  of  fifty-three  dollars,  he  set 
out  on  his  tedious  and  perilous  journey ;  having  first  sent 
a  string  of  appointments  to  Virginia  by  his  friend  Mr. 
Mead. 

On  the  19th  of  April,  he  set  out  on  this  laborious  and 
dangerous  tour  through  the  wilds  of  the  Soutliwest. — 
Crossing  the  Oconee  river,  he  found  a  party  going  the 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  67 

same  route.  With  those  he  traversed  the  countries  ly- 
inj^  betueen  and  on  the  banks  of  the  Tonibi;2bee,  Ala- 
bama and  Flint  rivers,  preaching  where  he  couhJ  jiet  an 
opportunity  to  red  and  white  men.  After  a  tedions  jour- 
ney of  eiirht  hundred  miles,  he  reached  Natchez,  uhere 
he  found  many  kind  friends  and  held  several  r)ieetin<is. 
Fro.m  Natchez  he  proceeded  through  Tennessee  into 
Kentucky,  and  thence  into  Virginia  to  fill  the  chain  of 
appoint Mients  made  for  him  by  Mr.  Mead. 

On  this  journey  he  narrowly  escaped  beinff  destroyed 
by  a  party  of  Indians,  who  had  sworn  to  revenge  the 
death  ot  one  of  their  number  by  the  death  of  a  white 
raan.  hey  met  him  in  the  woods  of  Cumberland  and, 
seizing  his  bridle  rein,  menaced  his  life.  While  they 
were  venting  their  wrath  in  their  uncouth  gibberish,  his 
horse  started  sideways,  the  Indian  who  held  the  bridle 
let  it  slip  from  his  hands,  and  Lorenzo,  applying  his  ri- 
ding whip  to  his  horse,  the  faithful  beast  started  at  full 
gullop,  and  being  of  superior  speed,  escaped. 

He  also  experienced  much  personal  suffering  at  times; 
and  was  once  nearly  arrested  as  a  horse  thief;  but  after 
a  journey  of  more  than  four  thousand  miles  he  returned 
to  Georgia,  having  been  absent  about  seven  months. — 
When  he  left  he  was  well  equipped,  but  on  his  return 
he  thus  describes  his  personal  appearance : 

"1  had  no  stockings,  shoes  or  moccasins;  no  outer 
g-arment ;  my  coat  and  vest  were  worn  through  to  my 
shirt ;  my  hat  case  and  umbrella  were  spoiled  ;  my  pan- 
taloons were  worn  out;  my  watch  I  had  parted  with  to 
bear  my  expenses,  and  I  had  not  the  same  valuable 
horse." 

While  this  destitute  condition  shews  the  hardships  of 
this  erratic  tourist,  it  also  exhibits  an  unwonted  self-de- 
nial ;  for  he  says,  that  many  pounds  were  offered  him  at 


68  THE  ECCENTRIC  preacher:  OR 

different  places,  but  that  he  almost  uniformly  refused  to 
accept  aid,  lest  it  should  militate  against  his  success  as 
an  EvanfTelist.  Whatever  opinion  we  may  form  of  his 
motives  for  his  general  course  of  conduct,  this  habit  of 
refusing  aid  from  generous-hearted  strangers  certainly 
does  much  towards  establishing  his  character  for  a  sin- 
cerity of  desire  to  do  good.  But  once  more  among  his 
friends  he  scrupled  no  longer  to  receive  assistance,  and 
he  was  therefore  soon  equipped  in  decent  style  for  trav- 
elling. 

He  next  visited  the  upper  counties  of  Georgia,  uhere, 
he  says,  "  I  had  refreshing  seasons."  Here  he  was  in- 
formed by  General  Stewart  "  of  a  man  who  heard  the 
doctrine  of  unconditional  election  and  reprobation 
preached  up:  the  devil  told  him,  he  was  one  of  the  rep- 
robates, which  drove  him  to  despair,  and  he  put  an  end 
to  his  life  by  blowing  out  his  brains"! 

The  following  extracts  from  his  journal  will  show  his 
peculiar  modes  of  holding  meetings  at  this  time  : 

"Nov.  20th,  I  arrived  at  Camp  Meeting  at  Rehoboth : 
I  took  Master  "  I  am"  for  my  text ;  observing,  that  he 
offered  a  great  reward  for  runaways,  whose  marks  I 
would  describe.  The  auditory,  amounting  to  about  five 
thousand,  sunk  into  a  solemn  silence  whilst  I  described 
the  diabolical  marks  of  dinners,  and  the  rewards  for  their 
return. 

"Nov.  23d,  I  spoke  at  Louisville  in  the  State  House. 
Brigadier  General  Stewart  was  present.  I  attacked 
A-double-L'partism  (Calvinism)  and  proposed  a  cove- 
nant to  the  auditory  to  meet  me  at  the  throne  of  grace 
for  a  limited  period  of  time.  The  gentlemen,  observing 
General  Stewart  arise,  followed  his  example  as  a  sign 
of  their  compliance  with  the  proposal." 

While  at  Louisville  he  received  "  a  recommendation 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  69 

as  a  preacher  of  the  gospel  to  the  world  of  mankind, 
signed  by  the  Governor,  Secretary,  and  twenty-eight 
members  of  ihe  Legislature,  with  the  great  seal  of  the 
State." 

In  December,  he  attended  the  sittings  of  the  Georgia 
Conference,  where  he  met  Bishop  Asbury  and  Dr.  Coke, 
both  of  whom,  he  says,  treated  him  with  kindness  and 
cordiality.  He  preached  once  during  the  session  of  the 
Conference. 

In  the  early  part  of  January  1804,  he  visited  Charles- 
ton, where  he  preached  both  in  the  Episcopal  and  Meth- 
odist churches.  From  thence,  he  proceeded  to  JNorth 
Carolina,  and  afterwards  into  Tennessee.  After  endur- 
ing some  hardships  and  spending  all  his  money  in  cros- 
sing the  Celuda  and  Alleghany  mountains,  he  reached 
Newport  in  time  to  fulfil  a  previous  appointment,  and 
then  he  proceeded  to  Knoxville,  that  he  might  satisfy 
himself  as  to  the  nature  of  a  singular  exercise  then  pre- 
vailing in  that  region,  called  ihe  jeiks.  At  Knoxville 
and  Seversville  he  saw  several  persons  "have  the  jerks^ 
though  they  strove  to  keep  still  as  they  could  :  their  emo- 
tions were  involuntary  and  irresistible,  as  any  unpreju- 
diced eye  might  discern." 

He  thus  describes  a  jerking  scene  at  Mary's-ville  : 

"Here,  I  spoke  to  about  one  hundred,  and  many  ap- 
peared to  feel  the  word,  but  about  fifty  felt  the  jerks  ;  at 
night,  I  lodged  with  one  of  the  Nicholites,  a  kind  of 
Quakers  who  do  not  feel  free  to  wear  colored  clothes. 
I  spoke  to  a  number  of  people  at  his  house  that  night. 
While  at  tea,  I  observed  his  daughter  to  have  the  jerks  : 
she  dropped  the  tea-cup  from  her  hand  in  violent  agita- 
tion.    I  said  to  her :  '  Young  woman,  what  is  the  matter .'' 

"She  replied,  'I  have  got  the  jerks.' 

"I  asked  her  how  long  she  had  it.    She  said ;  a  few 


70         THE  ECCENTRIC  PREACHZR!  OR 

days,  and  that  it  had  been  the  means  of  the  awakening' 
and  conversion  of  her  soul,  by  stirring  her  up  to  serious 
cons^ideration  about  her  careless  state. 

"Sunday,  Feb'y  19th,  I  spoke  in  Knoxville.  About 
one  hundred  and  fifty  appeared  to  have  the  jerking  ex- 
ercises, among-  whom  was  a  circuit  preacher,  named 
Johnson,  who  had  opposed  them  a  little  before.  After 
meeiinj^,  I  rode  eighteen  miles  to  preach  at  night.  The 
people  of  this  settlement  were  mostly  Quakers,  and  had 
said  '  the  Methodists  and  Presbyterians  had  the  jerks  be- 
cause they  sung  and  prayed  so  much  ;  but  we  are  a  still 
and  peacelible  people,  and  therefore  do  not  have  them.' 
About  twenty  of  them  came  to  isneeting;  but  their  usual 
stillness  and  silence  were  interrupted,  for  about  a  dozen 
of  them  had  the  jerks  so  keen  and  powerful  as  to  occa- 
sion a  grunt  or -groan  when  they  jerked." 

Mr.  Dow's  opinion  of  this  strange  practice  may  be 
learned  from  the  following  extract : 

"I  have  seen  Presbyterians,  Methodists,  Quakers, 
Baptists,  Church  of  England,  and  Independents  exercised 
•with  the  jerks  ;  also  gentleman  and  lady,  black  and 
white,  the  aged  and  the  youth,  rich  and  poor,  without  ex- 
ception: from  which,  I  infer,  as  it  cannot  be  accounted 
for  on  natural  principles,  and  carries  such  marl\^  of  in- 
voluntary motion,  that  it  is  no  trifling  matter.  I  believe 
tliat  the  most  pious  are  rarely  touched  with  it,  and  those 
naturalists  v.-ho  wish  to  try  to  get  it  are  excepted:  but 
the  lukewarm,  lazy,  half-hearted  professor  is  subject  to 
it,  and  many  of  them  are  alarmed  by  it  and  stirred  up  to 
seek  God.  The  wicked  are  more  afraid  of  it  than  of  the 
small  pox  or  yellow  fever,  but  the  persecutors  are  more 
subject  to  it  than  any,  and  they  sometimes  have  cursed 
and  sv/ore  and  damned  it  whilst  jerking.  There  is  no 
pain  attending  the  jerks,  except  they  resist  it,  and  then 


LOREyZO  DO'-v's  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  71 

it  will  weary  them  more  in  an  hour  than  a  day's  labor ; 
which  shews  it  requires  the  consent  of  the  will  to  avoid 
Buiierin^." 

Lorenzo  now  travelled,  partly  on  foot  and  partly  on 
horseback,  into  Virginia,  to  fill  appointments  made  six 
months  before.  At  Abington,  after  preaching  he  an- 
nounced his  next  meeting  for  that  day  thirteen  months, 
and  then  proceeded  to  Turswell.  From  thence,  preach- 
•ing  at  many  places  on  his  way,  he  proceeded  to  cross 
the  Blue  Ridge  to  Culpepper,  Charlottesville,  and  other 
places,  and  on  the  22nd  of  March,  m  connection  with  his 
old  friend  Mr  Mead,  he  held  a  very  profitable  and  pow- 
erful Camp  Meeting  in  New  London. 

After  this  Camp  Meeting  he  continued  to  travel  ex- 
tensively in  Virginia,  visiting  and  preaching  at  most  of 
the  principal  towns  in  the  State,  until  the  24th  of  the  fol- 
lowing June.  -  The  most  interesting  incidents  of  this 
tour  are  given  in  the  following  paragraphs  from  his 
journal : 

"  April  5th.  A  Presbytery  was  sitting  at  Prince  Ed- 
ward, and  many  lawyers  were  here.  I  spoke  to  about 
three  thousand  people,  standing  on  the  stocks  or  pillory, 
on  the  subject  of  predestination  and  deism.  A  minister 
observing  the  attention  of  all  present,  and  the  sale  of  my 
books,  remarked  that  the  stocks  were  the  fittest  place 
for  me. 

"  6th.  I  spoke  at  Tarwallet  church,  in  the  day  time, 
and  at  night  at  John  Hobson's,  Jr.,  whom  I  called  my 
papa,  and  his  wife  my  mamma.  His  mother,  nearly 
ninety  years  of  age,  when  I  asked  her  if  she  prayed, 
thought  what  should  I  pray  for  ?  but  in  the  night  she  re- 
flected, and  asked  herself  '  what  have  I  been  about  all 
my  life  time?  I  am  nearly  one  hundred  years  old,  and 
ROver  considered  my  future  state  .^'    Here,  conviction 


72  THE  ECCENTRIC  PREACHER  :    OR 

seized  her  mind.  She  went  in  the  morning  to  her  son's 
and  desired  prayer:  in  about  a  week  she  was  brought  to 
rejoice  in  God. 

"7th.  Papa  took  me  in  a  chaise  to  Carter's-ville.  I 
got  the  liberty  of  a  tobacco  shed  or  warehouse,  where  I 
spoke  to  about  five  hundred.  One  man  rode  into  the 
company  and  continued  on  his  horse  about  two  hours. 

'•May  3d.  I  spoke  at  Pace's  meeting  house.  Benjo. 
Pace  had  borne  an  unblemished  character  as  a  preach- 
er, and  at  length  fell  into  a  decline.  Calling  for  his 
shroud  and  grave-clothes,  he  dressed  himself  in  them  ; 
then  bade  his  family  farewell.  Said  he,  '  I  have  done 
fighting,  my  soul  is  in  glory,'  and  with  his  hands  fixed 
in  a  proper  attitude,  he  went  off  triumphant.  This  is  a 
a  match  for  an  infidel. 

"4th.  I  spoke  four  hours,  lacking  thirteen  minutes, 
between  two  trees  at  Cole's  Chapel,  to  a  crowded  and  at- 
tentive auditory. 

"6th.  I  spoke  at  Fredericksburg  four  times  and' col- 
lected upwards  of  forty  pounds  for  the  benefit  of  a  free 
school.  The  little  boys  who  heard  me  preach,  went  o- 
ver  town  next  day  spelling  All,  part,  few,  elect,  some, 
small  number,  &c.;  which  diverted  some  and  exaspera- 
ted others. 

"  11th.  I  received  a  letter  from  my  father,  giving  me 
the  particulars  of  my  mother's  dissolution  and  triumphant 
end. 

"Here  (Baltimore  Md)  br.  Ostrander  informed  rne 
that  the  New  York  Conference  had  conversed  about  me 
and  some  were  minded  to  block  up  my  Avay,  whilst  oth- 
ers objected,  saying,  'he  does  no  harm,  but  we  get  the 
fruit  of  his  labor';  Avhilst  the  former  urged,  that  my  ex- 
ample was  bad,  for  perhaps  fifty  Dows  might  spring  from 
the  same  nest ;  so  they  agreed  to  discourage  giving  out 


LOREXZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  73 

my  appointments,  and  it  appears,  that  some  came  to  this 
'(general)  conference  (then  sitting  at  Baltimore)  with  an 
intention  to  block  up  my  way  at  once;  but  on  seeing 
the  Southern  preachers,  their  prejudices  deserted  them 
and  they  became  friendly,  though  before  cool  and  distant. 

"  1  had  felt  a  desire  to  visit  Boston  for  some  time,  but 
never  saw  my  way  open  until  now.  George  Pickering, 
presiding  elder  in  Boston  District,  invited  me  to  his  ju- 
risdiction, which  I  esteemed  a  providence." 

At  a  Camp  Meeting  in  Powhattan  County,  on  the  10th 
of  June,  twenty-five  rude  men  combined  together  to  give 
Lorenzo  a  flogging  ;  but  by  the  timely  interference  of 
his  friends,  he  escaped  their  clutches,  and  they  were 
awed  into  quietude  by  tte  threats  of  the  law  held  over 
them  in  terrorem  :  but  we  return  to  his  journal : 

'•  Sunday,  24th.  1  embarked  (at  Portsmouth,  Va.)  for 
New  York.  Wo  had  some  contrary  winds,  horrible 
squalls,  and  calms  ;  however,  in  eight  days  I  spoke  with' 
some  friends  in  New  York. 

"I  put  my  trunk  on  board  a  vessel  for  Middletown, 
and  a  friend  took  me  forty  miles,  whence  I  continued  un- 
til I  came  near  Connecticut  line ;  and  whilst  raising  my 
heart  to  God  to  open  me  a  way  for  provision,  I  met 
Aaron  Hunt,  a  preacher,  who  told  me  where  to  get  re- 
freshments. I  did  so,  went  on  to  Danbury,  pawned  my 
watch,  and  took  stage  to  Hartford. 

"July  10th.  Walking  twenty  miles  I  came  to  my 
father's  house,  which  appeared  empty.  Things  seem 
pleasant  round  about,  but  my  mother  is  no  more.  I  can- 
not mourn,  my  loss  is  her  gain.  The  rest  of  my  friends 
are  well  iri  body,  but  low  in  religion." 

Returning  to  Middletown  for  his  trunk,  he  says,  •*! 
found  the  contemplation  for  a  meeting  house  like  to  fall 
through.    I  offered  them  eight  hundred  dollars  worth  of 
5 


74         THE  ECCENTRIC  PREACHER  :  OK 

books,  to  aid  therein,  provided  they  would  give  me  as- 
sistance  in  putting  my  journal  to  the  press."  It  does 
not  appear  by  his  journal,  that  this  offer  was  accepted. 
Meeting  with  a  brother  Burrows,  he  left  for  Hebron, 
where  with  some  others  he  resolved  on  holding  a 
Camp  Meeting.  Here  also  he  met  with  some  pecunia- 
ry difficulty.  A  young  horse  he  owned,  died  ;  a  sum  af 
money  he  had  sent  for  its  keeping  had  miscarried,  and 
he  had  lost  his  coat.  This  affair  very  much  embarrass- 
ed him,  as  he  had  sent  on  an  appointment  to  Boston,  and 
he  had  no  means  of  reaching  there.  Just  at  this  crisis, 
he  says,  "  a  letter  from  a  motherly  woman  came  to  hand 
in  which  was  enclosed  a  bank  note."  With  this,  he 
proceeded  to  Waltham,  Mass.,  and  put  up  with  the  fath- 
er-in-law of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pickering. 

Here  he  found  a  paper  maker,  who  for  one  hundred 
dollars  down,  and  bonds  for  the  remainder,  would  fur- 
nish him  with  paper  for  printing  his  journal.  But  where 
to  get  these  means  he  knew  not,  until,  he  writes,  "  I  fell 
asleep  and  dreamed  when  and  where  I  could  get  the 
money.  I  wrote  to  my  Middletown  friends,  and  suc- 
ceeded accordingly." 

Of  this  dream  and  its  fulfilment  it  may  be  remarked 
that  probably  some  friends  in  Middletown  had  made  him 
some  conditional  offers  of  aid.  These  offers  dwelling 
on  his  mind,  there  is  no  difficulty  in  accounting  for  his 
dream,  nor  for  its  actual  fulfilment.  There  is  no  neces- 
sity of  referring  it  to  supernatural  influence. 

After  preaching  at  Boston,  he  returned  to  Springfield 
and  Hartford,  succeeded  in  getting  his  journal  through 
the  press,  and  started  on  a  tour  of  six  thousand  miles  to 
fulfil  his  appointments,  without  a  ceht  in  his  pocket. — • 
Passing  through  Litchfield  and  Danbury,  he  reached 
New  York  State,  and  preached  several  times  on  brother 


LORENZO  DOW  S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  /O 

Thatcher's  district,  of  which,  however,  he  does  not  give 
the  location.  On  his  old  circuit  (Dutchess)  he  says,  "I 
saw  some  who  retained  prejudice,  but  I  continued  my 
journey,  putting  up  at  the  inns,  being  unwilling  to  screw 
any  thing  through  the  Devil's  teeth." 

Reaching  Albany  he  preached  several  times,  and  then 
travelled  to  Weston,  the  residence  of  Smith  INIiller, 
whose  daughter  Peggy  he  afterwards  married.  Here  on 
the  31st  of  August  he  held  a  Camp  Meeting.  He  thus 
writes  concerning  his  mode  of  proceeding  there: 

"Sunday,  Sept.  2nd.  It  rained,  and  the  people  v.^ere 
punished  by  getting  wet  in  the  shower  through  not  com- 
ing better  prepared  for  encampment;  it  cleared  up  when 
I  addressed  them.  I  observed  three  companies  in  the 
v/oods,  and,  getting  on  a  log,  began  relating  a  story  con- 
cerning a  bird's  nest,  which  my  father  had  remarked 
represented  his  family,  that  would  be  scattered  like  those 
young  birds,  who  knew  not  the  getting  of  things  nor  pa- 
rental affection,  until  they  came  to  have  children  of  their 
own,  which  remarks  made  great  impression  on  my  mind. 
These  remarks  had  the  desired  effect,  and  gathered 
their  wandering  minds  into  a  train  of  good  thinking,  and 
prepared  their  hearts  for  the  reception  of  good  advice ; 
several  of  them  desired  I  should  pray  for  them,  and  soon 
nine  were  sprawling  on  the  ground,  some  of  them  ap- 
parently lifeless.  The  doctors  supposed  they  had  faint- 
ed, and  desired  water  and  fans  to  be  used:  I  replied, 
'Hush  1'  but  they,  to  show  the  fallacy  of  my  ideas,  pro- 
ceeded to  examine  them,  when  to  their  surprise  their 
pulse  was  regular.  Some  said,  '  It  is  fictitious,  they 
make  it.'  I  replied,  'The  weather  is  warm  and  we  are 
in  a  perspiration,  whilst  they  are  cold  as  corpses  ;  which 
cannot  be  done  by  human  art.' 

"Here  some  supposed  they  were  dying,  whilst  others 


76       THE  ECCEMTRrc  preacher:  or 

su<r^:^ested,  *  It  is  the  work  of  the  Devi].'  I  observed,  'If 
it  be  the  Pevil's  work  they  will  use  the  dialect  of  hell 
when  they  come  to.'  Some  watched  my  words  in  great 
solemnity,  and  the  first  and  second  were  soon  brought 
through  happy,  and  so  were  all  of  them  in  the  course  of 
the  ni^rht,  except  a  young  woman  who  had  come,  under 
good  impressions,  much  against  her  father's  will,  thirty 
miles.  She  continued  shrieking  for  mercy  eight  hours, 
soiiietimes  on  the  borders  of  despair,  until  near  sunrise, 
whe.n  I  exhorted  her,  if  she  had  a  view  of  her  Saviour  to 
receive  Him  as  appearing  for  her.  Hero  hope  revived, 
faith  sprang  up,  joy  arose  :  her  countenance  was  an  in- 
dex of  her  heart  to  all  beholders;  she  uttered  a  word, 
and  soon  she  testified  the  reality  of  her  mental  sensation 
and  the  peace  she  had  found. 

"  About  thirty  found  peace,  and  I  appointed  another 
Camp  Meeting  to  commence  in  May." 

Thus  far,  we  have  seen  Mr.  Dow  confining  himself  to 
the  work  of  an  Evangelist,  laboring,  it  is  true,  in  a  very 
eccentric  manner,  but  v/ith  much  power  and  efficiency. 
Amid  much  pov^-erful  opposition  he  held  on  in  his  errat- 
ic orbit,  fairly  living  do'.vn  a  great  amount  of  prejudice 
and  malice.  Had  he  continued  as  humble  dnd  self-de- 
nying to  the  end  of  his  career,  his  memory  might  Siill 
have  retained  a  balmy  sweetness,  and  his  irregularities 
would  have  been  lost  sight  of,  in  his  abounding  useful- 
ness ;  as  it  was,  however,  it  is  to  be  feared  that  he  ulti- 
mately lost  sight  of  that  singleness  of  eye,  that  at  first 
made  his  whole  body  full  of  light,  and  commended  him 
to  the  notice  and  orood  feelings  of  the  thristian  world. 


LORENZO  DOW  S  LIFE  Ai\D  THAVELS.  // 

CHAPTER  VL 
Lorenzo's  marriage. 

As  his  account  of  tliis  part  of  his  experience  and  his 
remarks  on  the  exercises  of  his  inind  previously  to  its 
occurrence  are  quaint  and  curious,  we  shall  gratify  our 
readers  by  transferring  this  chapter,  almost  entire,  from 
his  journal : 

"  When  I  was  in  Ireland,  I  saw  the  first  pair  that  I 
thought  were  happy  in  marriage.  I  heard  also  of  a 
young  man  who  made  a  proposal  of  marriage  ;  the  young 
woman,  possessing  piety  and  consideration,  agreed  to 
make  it  a  o^atter  of  fasting  and  prayer;  she  also  told  a 
considerate  friend,  who  gave  her  advice  on  the  subject. 
At  the  day  appointed  the  parties  met.  The  man  said  he 
thought  it  was  the  will  of  God  they  should  proceed,  and 
the  two  women  thought  other uise. 

"It  was  then  subniiltcd  to  rne,  to  give  my  opinion, 
why  the  young  man's  mind  differed  from  theirs.  Ire- 
plied,  '  that  many  persons  desire  a  thing,  and  from  thence 
reason  themselves  into  a  belief  tiiat  it  is  God's  will, 
when  in  fact  it  is  nothing  but  their  own.' 

"It  appears  to  me  concerning  a  person  who  is  mar- 
riageable, and  whose  duty  it  is  to  marry,  that  there  is 
some  particular  person  whom  he  ought  to  njarry ;  but  I 
believe  it  possible  to  miss  of  that  object  and  obtain  one 
who  is  not  proper  for  him.  Some  people  tliink  that  all 
matches  are  appointed,  but  that,  I  think  repugnant  to 
common  sense,  for  I  have  seen  men  and  women  in  court- 
ship put  the  best  foot  foremost  and  the  best  side  out : 
from  this,  their  ways  would  appear  pleasing,  and  fancy 
be  taken  for  love  ;  but  when  they  got  acquainted  with 
each  oth3r.s  weaknesses,  after  the  knot  was  tied,  the 


73       THE  ECCENTRie  pkeaceer:  or 

■ways  which  once  appeared  agreeable  were  now  odions;. 
Thus  the  dear  becomes  cheap,  and  the  honey  is  gall  and 
vinegar.  But  alas  !  it  is  too  late  to  repent.  Their  dis- 
positions being  SO'  dijEfcrent,  >t  is  as  mu€h  impossible  for 
them  to  live  agreeably  and  happy  together  as  for  the  sat 
and  dog  to  agree.  Thus  a  foundation  is  laid  for  unliap- 
piness  for  life. 

"  I  was  resolved  when  I  began  to  travel,  that  no  crea- 
ted object  should  be  the  means  of  rivaling  my  God,  and 
of  course,  not  to  alter  my  situation  in  life,  unless  a  way 
seemed  to  open  providentially,  whereby  I  might  judge 
that  my  extensive  usefulness  should  be  extended,  rather 
than  contracted. 

"  Smith  MiJler  of  Western,  came  to  a  big  meeting  in 
the  woods,  and  heard  that  crazy  Dow  was  there,  and  af- 
ter somg-  time,  sought  and  found  him.  He  accompanied 
me  to  my  appointments  consisting  of  about  one  hundred 
miles  travel.  He  kept,  what  some  call  a  Methodist  tav- 
trn,  that  is,  his  house  was  open  for  the  preachers  to  call 
and  slop.  One  of  my  appointments  being  near  his  house-, 
he  invited  me  to  tarry  all  night,  observing,,  that  his 
daughter  would  be  glad  to.. see  me.  I  asked,  'if  he  had 
any  children  ?'  He  replied,  '  a  young  womani  brought 
up,  I  call  my  daugliter.' 

"I  staid  all  night,  but  so  it  happened  that  not  a  word 
passed  between  her  and  me,  though  there  were  only 
three  in  family.  I  went  to  my  appointment,  where  we 
had  a  precious  time  ;  but  whilst  preaching,  I  felt  an  un- 
common exercise  run  through  my  mind  which  made  m.e 
pause  for  some  time.  In  going  to  my  evening  appomt- 
ment  I  had  to  return  by  the  house,  he  being  still  in  com- 
pany with  me.  I  asked  him  if  he  would  object,  if  I 
should  talk  to  his  daughter  concerning  matrimony.  He 
replied,  '  I  have  nothing  to  say,  only  I  requested  her^  if 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  /\J 

ske  hath  any  regard  for  me,  not  to  marry  so  as  to  leave 
my  house.' 

"  When  I  got  to  the  door,  I  abruptly  asked  his  wife, 
'  who  had  been  there  ?'  She  told  me ;  {it  was  probably 
Peggy's  former  suitor. — Ed.)  which  made  way  for  her  to 
observe  that  Peggy  was  resolved  never  to  marry,  unless 
it  were  to  a  preacher  and  one  who  would  continue  trav- 
elling. This  resolution  being  similar  to  my  own,  and 
she,  then  stepping  into  the  room,  I  asked  her  if  it  were 
BO?  She  answered  in  the  affirmative;  v>'hen  I  replied, 
'  Do  you  think  you  could  accept  of  such  an  object  as 
me?' 

"She  made  no  answer,  but  retired  from  the  room. 
This  was  the  first  time  of  my  speaking  to  her.  I  took 
dinner  and  asked  her  07ie  questiGn  more,  and  then  went 
to  attend  my  neighboring  moetings,  which  occupied  sev- 
eral days.  But  having  a  cloak  of  oiled  cloth  making,  I 
•went  back  to  get  it  and  staid  all  night ;  in-  the  morning 
I  observed  to  her, 'I  am  going  to  the  warm  countries 
where  I  have  never  spent  a  warm  season  and  it  is  prob- 
able I  shall  die,  as  the  warm  climate  destroys  most,  who 
go  from  a  cold  country ;  but  if  I  am  preserved  a  year 
and  a  half  from  now  I  hope  to  see  this  northern  country 
again,  and  if  you  live  and  remain  single,  and  find  no  one 
you  like  better  than  me,  and  would  be  willing  to  give 
me  twelve  months  out  of  thirteen,  or  three  years  out  of 
four  to  travel,  and  that,  in  foreign  lands,  and  never  say 
do  not  go  to  your  appointment ;  for  if  you  should  stand 
in  my  way,  I  should  pray  to  God  to  remove  you,  which 
I  believe  he  would  answer,  and  if  I  find  no  one  I  like 
better  than  I  do  you,  perhaps  something  further  may  be 
said  on  the  subject.'  And  then,  finding  her  character 
fair,  I  took  my  departure." 

The  reader  will  perceive  that  this  "queer  courtship" 


80  THE  ECCENTRIC  rEEACIIEK  :    OR 

took  place  before  Lorenzo  made  the  Southern  tour  de- 
scribed in  our  last  chapter,  though  it  is  omitted  entirely 
in  tlie  previous  part  of  his  journal. 

"  In  my  travels  I  went  to  the  Natchez  country,  where 
I  found  religion  low,  and  had  hard  times,  but  thought 
this  country  would  one  day  be  the  garden  of  America, 
and  if  this  family  (the  Millers)  would  remove  there,  it 
■would  prove  an  everlasting  blessing,  as  it  respects  reli- 
gion, to  the  inhabitants.  It  lay  on  my  mind  for  some 
weeks,  when  I  wrote  to  them  on  the  subject,  though  I 
had  no  outward  reason  to  suppose  they  would  go,  con- 
sidering the  vast  distance. 

'•But  now  I  found  she  was  still  single,  and  they  all 
willing  to  comply  with  my  request,  which  removed  ma- 
ny scruples  from  my  mind.  So  our  bargain  was  drawn 
to  a  close,  but  still,  I  thought  not  to  have  the  ceremony 
performed  until  I  should  return  from  Europe :  but  upon 
reflection,  considering  the  circumstances  would  require 
a  correspondence,  my  letters  might  be  intercepted  and 
the  subject  known,  prejudice  arise,  jealousy  ensu^,  and 
much  needless  conversation  and  evil  be  the  result. — 
Wherefore,  to  prevent  the  same,  a  preacher  coming  in 
we  v.ere  married  that  night,  though  .only  we  five  were 
present ;  this  being  the  third  of  September,  1804." 

Such  is  Mr.  Dow's  account  of  his  marriage,  and  it  is 
confirmed  in  all  its  minutics  by  his  "Peggy,"  in  her 
"journey  of  life."  Like  all  other  parts  of  his  life,  it  was- 
eccentric  and  extraordinary. 


LORENZO  DOAV'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  8J 


CHAPTER  VII. 
Lorenzo's  tour  to  Mississippi   and  through  new 

ENGLAND. 

The  day  after  his  marriage,  in  company  with  Smith 
Miller,  he  started  on  his  tour.  Passing  through  Penn- 
sylvania and  Ohio,  he  supplied  his  various  appointments 
with  no  attending  occurrences  worthy  of  notice.  Reach- 
ing Kentucky,  he  found  his  appointments  had  not  been 
circulated,  and  after  preaching  before  an  annual  confer- 
ence then  in  session,  he  passed  on  to  Tennessee,  where 
his  appointments  had  failed  of  being  known.  While 
here,  he  again  witnessed  the  prevalence  of  the  jerks, 
which  he  describes  in  the  following  paragraphs  from  his 
journal :  "*" 

'•  Friday,  19th  (October.)  Camp  Meeting  commenced 
at  Liberty.  Here  I  saw  the  jerks,  and  some  danced  ;  a 
strange  exercise  indeed,  though  involuntary,  yet  requir- 
ing the  consent  of  the  will,  i.  e.  the  people  are  taken 
jerking  irresistibly,  and  if  they  strive  to  resist,  it  worries 
them  much,  yet  is  attended  with  no  bodily  pain ;  and 
those  who  are  exercised  to  dance  and  resist,  feel  dead- 
ness  and  barrenness  come  over  their  minds :  but,  when 
they  yield  to  it  they  feel  happy,  and  there  is  a  heavenly 
smile  and  solemnity  on  their  countenances  that  carries 
conviction  to  the  minds  of  beholders. 

"  Sunday,  21st.  I  heard  Dr.  Forley,  a  converted  De- 
ist, and  a  man  of  liberal  education,  preach  on  the  sub- 
ject of  jerks  and  dancing  exercises.  He  brought  ten 
passages  of  Scripture  to  prove  that  dancing  was  once  a 
religious  exercise,  but  corrupted  at  Aaron's  Calf." 

The  reader  will  of  course  make  due  allowance  for  the 
superstitious  feelings  of  our  preacher,  and  also  for  his 


82         THE  ECCENTRIC  TREACHER:  OR 

innate  love  of  the  strange  and  remarkable.  These 
traits  in  his  character  may  serve  to  explain  his  credence 
in  the  unnatural  and  offensive  exercises  above  described. 

On  the  '^3d  of  October,  in  company  with  two  preach- 
ers, Messrs.  Blackman  and  Barnes,  he  left  Franklin  for 
Natchez,  and  on  the  4th  of  November  following  reached 
that  city,  after  enduring  the  usual  toil  of  traversing 
woods  and  crossing  rivers  on  horseback,  camping  on  the 
bare  ground  at  night,  and  escaping,  sometimes  with  dan- 
ger, the  attacks  of  the  roving  Indians,  who  at  that  time 
made  it  unsafe  for  white  men  to  pass  through  their  Syl- 
van territories. 

While  here,  he  writes : 

"8th.  I  visited  Washington  and  Natchez,  and  some 
of  the  adjacent  parts.  Here,  I  must  observe  the  truth  of 
the  maxim,  '  Give  the  Devil  rope  enough  and  he  will 
hang  himself,'  for  a  printer  extracting  a  burlesque  on  me 
from  a  Lexington  paper,  just  as  he  got  his  types  set  up, 
I  made  application  for  the  insertion  of  a  notice,  that  I 
should  hold  a  meeting  in  the  town  on  Sunday.  This, 
following  the  other,  made  impression  on  the  people's 
minds  and  excited  the  curious  to  attend  meeting.  When 
I  was  here  before  I  found  it  almost  impossible  to  get  the 
people  out  to  meeting  any  way,  but  now,  I  spoke  three 
succeeding  Sabbaths,  and  some  on  week  days. 

"  Sunday,  2oth.  I  spoke  for  the  last  time  at  Natchez. 
I  then  visited  Selzer-town,  Greenville  and  Gibson-port. 
We  held  a  quarterly  meeting  at  Clark's  Creek.  Some 
supposed  I  would  get  no  Campers,  (he  alludes  to  a  Camp 
Meeting  he  had  appointed  to  be  held  near  Washington, 
Miss.)  but  here,  I  wished  to  know  if  there  were  any 
backsliders  in  the  audience,  and  begged  them  to  come 
forward  and  I  would  pray  for  them.  An  old  backslider, 
who  bad  been  happy  in  the  old  settlements,  with  tears 


83 

came  forward  and  fell  upon  his  knees :  several  others 
followed  his  example.  A  panic  seized  the  congregation 
and  a  solemn  awe  ensued.  We  had  a  cry  and  shout. — 
It  was  a  weeping,  tender  time.  The  Devil  was  annry, 
and  those  without  persecuted,  saying,  '  Is  God  deaf,  that 
they  cannot  worship  him  without  such  a  noise  ?' 

"Tills  prepared  the  way  for  the  Camp  Meeting,  and 
about  thirty  from  this  neighborhood  went  upwards  of 
thirty  miles  and  encamped  on  the  ground.  The  meet- 
ing continued  four  days.  The  Devil  was  angry  at  this 
also,  and  though  his  emissaries  contrived  various  pro- 
jects to  raise  a  dust,  their  efforts  proved  ineffectual.  In 
general,  there  was  good  decorum,  and  about  fifty  v/ere 
awakened  and  five  professed  justifying  faith." 

After  a  short  excursion  into  Louisiana,  he  left  Missis- 
sippi on  the  IGth  of  December,  to  return  to  the  Nortli. — 
Crossing  a  ford  of  the  Pearl  river,  he  narrowly  escaped 
drowning,  the  stream  carrying  him  and  horse  several 
feet  down  the  river.  Proceeding,  with  his  party,  he 
crossed  the  Tombigbee  and  Alabama  rivers^  and  on  the 
17th  of  January  (1805)  reached  Georgia  Settlement,  near 
fort  Wilkinson.  We  shall  here  extract  from  his  journal 
Euch  incidents,  that  occurred  on  his  return  homeward, 
as  may  either  instruct  or  interest  the  reader. 

"  Thursday,  17th.  We  had  a  good  time  here  (Fort 
Vv'ilkinson).  Many  had  heard  of  my  marriage,  but  did 
not  credit  it  until  they  heard  it  from  my  own  mouth: 
the  particulars  of  which,  to  prevent  fruitless  and  need- 
less conversation,  I  related  in  public  ;  for,  many  said, '  I 
wonder  what  he  wants  with  a  consort' 

"January  25th.  In  my  sleep  I  viewe<l  myself  at 
papa  Hobson's  with  my  wife,  and  shortly  veas  separated 
to  a  great  distance,  and  found  myself  with  a  horse  on  a 
high  hill,  from  whence  I  could  espy  her,  although  a  wil- 


84 


THE  ECCENTRIC  preacher:  OR 


derness  with  great  rivers  and  swamps  intervened.  I  felt 
duty  to  require  my  presence  there,  and  descended  the 
hill  for  that  purpose,  after  I  had  set  my  compass.  I  soon 
got  into  a  dale  with  a  wiiiding,  circuitous  road,  v/here  I 
could  not  see  before  me.  Discouragements  seemed  al- 
most insurmountable,  yet  conviction  said  I  must  go. — 
Faith  said,  it  might  be  accomplished  by  patient  dili- 
gence, fortitude  and  resolution.  From  this  and  a  simi- 
lar dream,  I  infer  that  some  severe  trials  are  at  hand. 

"Sunday,  27th.  I  spoke  three  times  in  Augusta,  and 
had  refreshing  seasons.  I  found  the  first  cost  of  my 
journal  to  be  between  tv/o  and  three  thousand  dollars  . 
the  profits  of  which,  I  designed  to  aid  in  erecting  a 
meeting  house  in  V/ashington,  the  Federal  city.  A 
person,  who  had  promised  me  the  loan  of  one  thousand 
dollars,  found  it  inconvenient  to  perform  ;  also  about 
two  hundred  guineas  worth  of  books  v/ere  mis-sent,  and 
cannot  be  accounted  for ;  so  that  my  pecuniary  pros- 
pects are  gloomy. 

"Feb.  9th.  Early  this  morning  I  parted  with  Smith 
Miller,  who  started  for  Mr.  Hobson's,  and  I  rode  twenty 
miles  to  Salem  (South  Carolina)  and  spoke  to  three 
thousand  people  in  the  open  air.  Whilst  I  Avas  speak- 
ing about  our  sorrows  ending  in  future  joy,  it  seemed 
like  going  to  heaven  with  many,  whos$  countenances 
•were  indices  of  their  sensations. 

"]lth.  Stokes  Court  House,  three  thousand  (hear- 
ers) ;  a  solemn  time. 

",15th.  Spoke  at  General  Martin's,  (Virginia).  My 
heart  feels  drawn  and  bound  to  Europe. 

"16th.  Rode  tvrenty  miles  to  Watson's  meeting 
house,  where  I  spoke  to  a  listening  multitude.  The 
bench  on  which  I  stood,  suddenly  let  me  down  out  of 
sight.     Recovering  dexterously  1  observed,  it  was  a 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  85 

loud  call  for  sinners  to  be  in  readiness,  lest  they  should 
sink  lower  than  the  grave." 

Mr.  Dow  proceeded  from  Virginia  to  Washington, 
(D.  C.)  where,  he  says,  a-  gentleman  offered  him,  gratu- 
itously, a  spot  of  land  for  his  contemplated  meeting 
house.  From  thence,  he  went  to  Stony  Creek,  (Va.) 
where,  in  opposition  to  the  wishes  of  Jesse  Lee,  he  held 
a  Camp  Meeting,  at  which,  he  says,  'five  thousand  per- 
sons were  present,  and  about  thirty  souls  converted  to 
God.'  Thence,  preaching  at  several  towns  on  his  route, 
he  went  to  a  Camp  Meeting  at  Ebenezer  where,  he  says, 

"  Being  invited  to  a  local  preacher's  tent,  I  at  first  hes- 
itated, till  they  agreed  to  give  me  their  daughter  to  give 
to  my  Master.  This  greatly  mortified  the  young  wo- 
man, but  prepared  the  way  for  her  conversion.  I  found 
two  young  men  and  another  young  woman  in  the  tent, 
with  whom  I  conversed  about  their  souls.  The  voun'r 
woman  was  turbulent ;  I  told  her  Old  Sara  would  pay 
her  a  visit.  This  reminded  her  of  my  description  of  a 
character  som.e  months  before,  when  I  had  pointed  at 
her  and  said,  '  You  young  woman  with  the  green  bon- 
net I  mean.'  Here,  conviction  ran  to  her  heart ;  her 
shrieks  became  piercing,  the  other  three  also  were  con- 
victed. This  gathered  christians  around  to  wrestle  vrith 
God  in  prayer,  and  He  set  their  souls  at  liberty.  Pre- 
judice had  been  conceived  in  the  minds  of  some  here, 
which  was  rem.oved  by  my  relating  in  public  the  partic- 
ulars of  my  marriage.'' 

Proceeding  through  several  towns  in  the  north  of 
Virginia,  he  crossed  into  Maryland  and  thence  to  Win- 
chester, (Penn.)  where  he  spoke  to  "six  thousand." — 
From  this  place  ho  travelled  to  Carlisle,  held  meetings, 
and  then  pressed  on  to  Tioga  Point,  which  he  reached 
on  the  I4th  of  April,  having  travelled  seven  hundred  and 


86         THE  ECCENTRIC  PREACKER!  OR 

fifty  miles  in  fifteen  days,  and  spoken  twenty-six  times  on 
the  way,  the  appointments  havingbeen  mostly  given  out 
thirteen  months  before.  No  wonder,  Lorenzo  frequent- 
ly broke  down  his  horses,  as  appears  from  his  journal  to 
have  been  tJie  case.  No  horse  could  endure  such  in- 
cessant driving. 

"April  2'2.  Arrived  back  in  Western  after  an  ab- 
sence of  eight  months.  Peggy  was  not  at  home.  Our 
marriage  was  rot  known  in  general  in  this  neighbor- 
hood until  within  a  few  days  past.  It  caused  a  great 
uproar  among  the  people. 

"23d.  Peggy  felt  it  impressed  on  her  mind  that  I 
was  here,  and  came  home  early  in  the  morning,  having 
enjoyed  her  health  better  and  her  mind  also,  than  for 
some  time  previous  to  my  absence." 

After  remaining  at  home  a  few  days,  T<orenzo  attend- 
ed a  Camp  Meeting  about  three  miles  from  Western. — 
Here,  he  left  his  wife  and  proceeded  on  a  new  tour.  At 
Albany,  he  was  refused  admission  into  the  Methodist 
meeting  house,  and  therefore  preached  in  the  Court 
House.  From  thence  he  passed  on  to  Hartford,  where 
he  had  an  interview  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ostrander,  re- 
specting a  Camp  Meeting  he  intended  to  ho]d  on  his 
district.  Having  arranged  this  matter  to  his  own  satis- 
faction he  travelled  to  New  Haven,  and,  pav/ning  his 
Avatch  for  a  trunk,  embarked  for  New  York,  where  he 
says,  "  I  found  prejudice  in  some  minds  and  in  some  it 
was  relieved."  After  attending  a  camp-meeting  on 
Long  Island  he  sailed  to  Black  Rock  in  a  sloop,  and 
from  thence  walked  to  Coventry  where  he  says,  "  I  found 
my  father  and  friends  well." 

On  the  26th,  he  attended  camp-meeting  in  Bolton, 
(Conn).  Excepting  some  difficulty  from  the  refusal  of 
the  Presbyterians  around  them  to  supply  them  with  wa- 


•I 

LORENZO  UOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  87 

ter,  and  a  little  disturbance  from  some  wretched  grog- 
venders,  nothing  remarkable  occurred  at  this  meeting. 

He  also  attended  another  camp-meeting  at  Norton,  in 
company  with  the  Rev.  George  Pickering  and  others, 
where  "the  Lord  was  wonderfully  present  with  his  Spir- 
it, for  whilst  Mr  Pickering  was  preaching,  numbers  fell 
as  if  the  powers  of  unbelief  gave  way.  The  cry  be- 
came so  great,  that  he  was  constrained  to  give  over,  but 
the  work  continued." 

On  the  10th  of  June  we  find  him  in  Boston  (Ms).  But 
let  him  speak  for  himself. 

"Monday  10,  (June).  Here  (Boston)  I  spoke  several 
times  and  we  had  comfortable  times  from  the  presence 
of  God.  I  visited  Lynn,  where  we  had  a  precious  time, 
though  religion  had  been  cold  there  for  some  time.  I 
also  visited  Marblehead,  where  I  saw  a  preacher  from 
Ireland,  who  escaped  with  some  others  in  an  open  boat 
from  the  ship  Jupiter,  as  she  strnck  a  cake  of  ice  and 
went  down  with  twenty  seven  persons  on  board,  among 
whom  was  a  preacher,  with  his  wife  and  seven  children. 

"  14th.  The  following  appeared  in  the  Salem  Gazette  : 

BY    DESIRE. 

"  Lorenzo  Dow,  an  eccentric  genius,  whoso  pious  and 
moral  character  cannot  be  censured  with  propriety,  is  to 
preach  at  the  Court-House  precisely  at  nine  o'clock  this 
morning. 

"  I  spoke  to  a  few  who  would  fain  have  made  a  laugh, 
but  there  seemed  to  be  a  restraining  hand  over  them. — 
This  day  I  had  five  meetings  and  thirty  miles  travel.  At 
the  last  of  them,  the  rabble  attempted  to  make  a  dis- 
turbance ;  and  at  night  broke  some  of  the  windows  of 
the  preaching  house,  which  denotes  that  Satan  views 
the  danger  of  his  kingdom. 

"Hence  tb  VValtham  to  brother  Pickering's  quarterly 


88  THE  ECCENTRIC  PREACHER  :    OR 

meeting.  Kis  wife  is  a  well  educated  woman,  of  a 
sweet,  amiable  disposition,  and  far  from  the  proud  scorn- 
ful way  of  some.  Here  are  four  generations  under  one 
roof,  viz:  her  grand-parents,  parents,  self  and  children. 

"  I  preached  on  Saturday  and  Sunday,  and  called  up 
those  who  wished  me  to  remember  them  ;  and  the  pow- 
er of  God  seemed  to  come  over  all.  I  also  visited  Need- 
ham  and  Milford." 

He  next  visited  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont,preach- 
ing  at  several  towns  on  his  route,  which  extended  so  far 
north  as  Hard  wick,  (Vt.) 

At  Salem,  (N.  H.)  observing  one  present,  whom  the 
Calvinists  had  been  attempting  to  lead  away,  he  remark- 
ed, in  allusion  to  this  fact,  that  if  a  lamb  should  be  led 
A-om  his  dam,  by  a  goat,  to  feed  on  moss,  it  would  die. 

Returning  from  Hardwick  he  stopped  at  Starkesbor- 
ough  and  breakfasted  with  a  blacksmith,  who  formerly 
threatened  to  flog  him,  but  now  received  him  kindly  and 
even  put  a  shoe  on  his  horse.  This  change  in  his  dis- 
position towards  Lorenzo  was  to  be  attributed  to  the 
power  of  religion,  the  blacksmith  having  experienced  its 
sacred  influence  on  his  heart.  On  the  5th  of  July  he 
reached  Western,  where  he  v/rites,  "  I  found  my  Peggy 
and  friends  well." 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  89 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

HIS    VISIT    TO    ENGLAND    AND    IRELAND. 

His  stay  at  Western  was  short.  Ever  restless  and 
busy  he  could  not  confine  himself,  even  to  home,  but  for 
a  few  days.  Accordingly,  after  visiting  a  few  of  the 
neighboring  towns,  we  find  him  starting,  in  company 
with  Mrs.  Dow,  for  his  intended  tour  into  North  Caroli- 
na, on  the  14th  of  July.  He  soon  foulid,  however,  that 
'Peggy'  could  not  keep  pace  with  his  rapid  speed,  and 
he,  therefore,  left  her  at  his  friend's,  Mr.  Quackenbush, 
in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  proceeded  alone  on  his 
journey. 

As  tracing  his  progress  on  this  tour  would  only  be  a 
dull  repetition  of  journeyings,  similar  to  what  have  been 
repeatedly  described  in  this  work,  we  shall  not  tire  our 
readers'  patience  more  than  to  state  the  time  and  gener- 
al plan  of  this  route,  and  to  detail  the  few  incidents  of 
interest  contained  in  his  journal. 

His  route  lay  through  Pennsylvaniaand  Virginia,  into 
North  Carolina.  As  usual,  he  preached  nearly  every 
day  and  attended  several  Camp  Meetings,  which,  he 
states,  were  well  attended  and  productive  of  much  good. 
On  his  return,  he  reached  New  York  city  towards  the 
latter  end  of  October. 

During  this  journey  he  appears  to  have  suffered  ex- 
tremely from  a  violent  return  of  his  former  complaint,  the 
asthm.a.  So  troublesome  was  it,  that  it  disabled  him 
from  travelling  on  horseback,  and  he  sold  his  horse  and 
journeyed  partly  on  foot  and  partly  in  chaise  and  car- 
riage, as  he  had  opportunity. 

Here,  too,  we  discover  a  different  spirit  pervading  his 
journal.    Less  is  said  of  the  worth  of  souls  and  of  his 
G 


90         THE  ECCENTRIC  TREACHER:  OR 

spiritual  trials,  and  more  of  the  number  of  his  audiences 
and  the  influence  of  his  name.  His  oddities  also  begin 
to  assume  a  more  disgusting  and  reckless  form,  as  if  he 
were  beginning  to  glory  in  them  rather  than  in  the  cross 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  That  the  reader  may  judge 
of  the  truth  of  these  remarks,  we  lay  before  him  the  fol- 
lowing extracts  from  his  journal  : 

"Aug.  14th.  (At  Philadelphia).  Elder  Ware  informs 
me  that  my  appointments  were  given  out  through  the 
Peninsula,  which  I  had  been  informed  was  prevented. — 
So,  after  preaching  at  Ebenezer,  I  silently  withdrew,  and 
taking  my  horse  travelled  all  night,  until  ten  next  morn- 
ing, when  I  spoke  at  Bethel,  and  then  jumping  out  at  a 
itnndow  from  the  pulpit  rode  seventeen  miles  to  Union." 

Of  a  Camp  Meeting  held  at  New-Kent,  (Va.)  he 
writes  thus : 

"  The  rain  kept  back  many  :  however  there  were 
about  fifty  hopefully  converted,  and  it  may  be  said  the 
'  beloved  clouds  helped  us',  as  my  life  had  been  previ- 
ously threatened,  and  the  collegians,  backed  by  their 
president,  said  they  would  have  been  upon  us  had  not 
the  rain  hindered  them.  A  chump  of  wood  being  flung 
in  through  the  window,  I  leaped  out  after  the  man :  he 
ran  and  I  after  him  crying, 

" '  Run  !  run  !  old  Sara  is  after  you'  I 

"He  ran,  as  for  his  life,  and  leaping  over  a  fence  hid 
among  the  bushes. 

"  Next  morning  I  cut  Old  Saul's  name  on  wood,  nail- 
ed it  to  a  tree,  and  called  it  Old  Sam's  Monument.  I 
asked  the  people  publicly,  pointing  to  the  Monument, 
who  was  willing  to  enlist  and  serve  so  poor  a  master? — 
I  also  observed,  that  the  people  who  had  threatened  my 
life,  only  on  hearsay  accounts,  were  covfardly  and  inhu- 
man, as  I  was  an  entire  stranger  to  them,  and  their  con- 


LORENZO  COW  S  LIFE  A^•D  TRAVELS.        Gl 

i3iict  against  me  was  under  cover;  I  said,  'Your  conduct 
is  condemnable,  which  expression  means  damnable,  and 
of  course  to  make  the  best  of  you,  you  are  nolhinj^  but 
a  -pack  of  damned  cowards,  for  there  durst  not  one  of  you 
show  your  heads.' " 

Need  it  be  wondered  at,  that  his  opponents  in  return 
for  this  low  and  vulgar  abuse,  retorted  upon  him  the 
charge  of  swearing?  And  how,  even  under  the  plea  of 
eccentricity,  can  sucli  conduct  and  such  remarks  find  a 
hiding  place  ?  Is  it  surprising  that  pious  men  opposed 
the  man,  who  could  stoop  to  the  use  of  such  weapons  in 
support  or  rather  in  defence  of  the  gospel  ?  Truly  this 
was  becoming  'all  things  to  all  men'  with  a  vengeance. 

At  another  place  in  Virginia,  he  held  a  public  debate 
with  a  Calvinist  preacher,  whom  he  calls  '  Bob  Sample.' 
It  would  seem,  from  his  journal,  that  the  Calvinist  was 
worsted,  for  he  took  his  leave  rather  hastily,  leaving  his 
bible  behind  him.  Hence,  the  wicked,  who  no  doubt 
enjoyed  the  debate,  remarked,  that  they  were  like  two 
oaicers  fighting  a  duel ;  one  flinging  down  his  sv.-ord 
and  running  awaj',  crying  "Sword  fight  for  thyself." 

Having  felt  his  mind  drawn,  for  some  time,  towards 
Europe,  he  hastened  his  return  to  the  North,  and  reach- 
ing New  York  city,  he  gave  Peggy  her  choice  to  stay 
at  his  'Papa  Hobson's';  to  join  her  friends  ;  to  stay  with 
his  father ;  or  to  accompany  him  on  his  European  tour. 
She  chose  the  latter;  and  after  procuring  an  abundant 
supply  of  credentials,  he  and  Mrs.  Dow  embarked  on 
board  the  ship  Centurion  for  Liverpool,  Benjamin  Lord, 
master.    This  was  on  the  10th  of  November,  1805. 

Nothing  peculiar  attended  their  voyage.  Like  all  oth- 
er Atlantic  voyagers.they  had  their  seasons  of  storm  and 
calm,  danger  and  deliverance,  sickness  and  recovery ; 
and  heartily  tired  of  the  confinement  of  n  life  on  ship- 


92         THE  ECCENTRIC  PREACHER:  OR 

board  they  landed  at  Liverpool  on  the  ]7th  of  Decem- 
ber, after  a  passage  of  about  five  weeks.  We  shall  now 
let  Mr.  Dow  again  speak  for  hinriself,  that  the  mannerof 
his  reception  among  British  Methodists  may  be  clearly 
understood  according  to  his  view  of  the  subject. 

"  About  ten  o'clock  we  attempted  to  go  on  shore,  and 
landed  from  the  leaky  boat  about  a  mile  above  the  town, 
and  glad  was  I  to  get  once  more  on  the  land.  What 
now  ?  I  am  ashore'  in  an  old  country  ;  old  in  inhabit- 
ants and<)ld  in  sin  ;  but  new  to  me,  for  I  never  was  on 
the  English  shore  before. 

"I  left  my  Peggy  at  the  Captain's  boarding  house 
while  I  went  to  transact  some  business,  deliver  letters 
of  introduction,  &c. ;  but  all  was  gloomy.  I  returned, 
and  about  the  town  we  wandered,  until  all  our  letters 
were  delivered  but  one,  and  where  that  should  be  left, 
we  could  not  find  ;  when  I  observed  the  name  on  the 
wall.  The  man,  whose  name  was  on  the  letter,  observ- 
ing we  did  not  turn  to  go  off,  said  '  Come  in.' 

"As  he  was  silently  reading  the  letter,  one  who  stood 
by,  said  '  Dost  thou  know  one  Lorenzo  Dow  ?' 

"I  was  surprised,  and  answering  in  the  affirmative 
equally  surprised  them. 

"  The  man  said,  '  Tarry  a  night  or  two,'  but  the  wo- 
man plead  inconvenience.  So  we  put  up  at  a  boarding 
house,  at  twenty-eight  shillings  per  week  for  one — got 
letters  from  Dublin — strove  to  get  places  for  meeting. 
Spoke  once  in  an  '  All-part'  place.  The  minister  was 
friendly  to  my  face,  but  afterwards  said  '  I  was  crazy.' 
We  strove  five  times  to  sail  for  Dublin,  but  were  forced 
back  by  contrary  winds,  and  twice  were  nearly  lost. — 
The  woman,  who  had  asked  me  if  I  Ijnew  one  Lorenzo 
Dow,  having  formed  some  acquaintance  with  Henry 
Forshaw's  family,  took  me  there.    They  were  Metho- 


LORENZO  DOw's  LIFE  AXD  TRAVELS.  93 

dists,  and  our  hostess  having  informed  us  there  was  no 
roon),for  us,  Mrs.  Forshaw  invited  us  to  tarry  all  night, 
which  was  esteemed  a  providence  by  us.  We  staid 
here  a  faw  days. 

"One  evening  a  woman  came  in  and  said,  some  peo- 
ple in  a  neighboring  house  wished  to  see  the  American. 
I  went,  and  finding  about  twenty  together,  without  eith- 
er singing  or  prayer,  I  stood  up  and  gave  them  a  preach. 
God  fastened  conviction  on  one  woman's  heart,  who  witli 
her  husband,  wished  me  to  preach  at  their  house ;  which 
I  did  for  a  few  evenings.  There  were  Methodists  of  the 
old  society  and  Kilhamites  (a  body  of  seceders  from  the 
Wesleyans — En.)  present.  Shortly  after,  a  conversa- 
tion ensued  at  their  respective  leaders'  meetings  on  the 
question  of '  What  encouragement  shall  we  give  to  Lo- 
renzo, the  American  ?'  At  the  old  party's  it  went  against 
me ;  at  the  new,  I  was  invited  to  preach. 

"  Part  of  my  experience  being  in  a  Magazine,  which 
I  had  published  to  give  away  when  in  Ireland  before, 
contributed  to  clear  my  way.  I  spoke  in  Zion  Chapel 
not  many  times.  Some  were  awakened  and  joined  so- 
ciety, but  the  preacher  was  prejudiced.  At  one  meet- 
ing, Peter  Phillips  of  Warrington  attended,  having  felt 
his  mind  strongly  drawn  toward  Zion  (Chapel).  After 
meeting,  as  I  went  into  the  vestry  to  get  my  hat,  two 
women  in  great  distress  of  mind  eame  to  be  prayed  for. 
The  vestry  was  filled  with  people,  and  four  were  soon 
lying  on  the  floor  under  the  power  of  God,  which  some 
tliought  was  faintcess,  and  brought  fans  and  called  for 
water;  whilst  others  thought  they  were  dying  and  were 
frightened,  thinking  we  should  be  called  to  an  account. 
But  I  told  them  to  hush,  it  was  the  power  of  God.  The 
women  soon  came  through  happy,  which  caused  Peter 
^  Phillips  to  invite  me  to  his  neighborhood. 


94  THE  ECCENTKIC  PREACHER  I  OR 

"I  asked  v/hat  his  neighbors  were,  and  told  him  to  go 
homo  and  tell  his  people  ;  and  if  they  were  unanimous, 
it  bein^  on  my  way  to  London,  I  would  come  and 
preach.  He  did  so,  and  tliey  were  unanimous.  They 
Avere  Quaker  Methodists."' 

Lorenzo's  attempts  to  obtain  tlie  influence  of  th& 
Wesleyan  preachers  in  Liverpool  were  ineffectual. — 
They  afforded  him  no  countenance  whatever,  and  some 
of  the  leading  men  even  repulsed  him  vvith  a  decision  of 
manner  bordering  on  rudeness.  Hence,  he  soon  left 
this  great  commercial  city.  But  we  return  to  his  jour- 
nal : 

"  The  power  of  God  was  present  as  I  preached  twice 
in  Warrington.  From  thence  I  went  to  Manchester, 
wandered  about  for  eleven  hours  to  get  a  place  to  lodge 
and  could  find  none  for  love  or  money,  among  christian 
or  sinner.  I  called  on  Jabez  Bunting,  but  he  would  not 
bo  seen,  and  the  public  houses  were  full.  But,  as  I  was 
taking  passage  to  London  in  the  coach,  I  found  a  garret 
where  I  might  stay,  being  nearly  ten  at  night. 

"  In  the  morning  I  went  to  Brodaz  band-room.  Here, 
in  sermon,  one  locked  earnestly  at  me  and  said,' you  are 
a  stranger,  dine  with  me.'  I  did,  and  staid  two  days. — 
A  chapel  was  offered  me,  belonging  to  the  New  Con- 
nection. Preacher  and  trustees  said  they  would  be  pas- 
sive if  I  could  obtain  an  assembly.  So  I  got  one  thou- 
sand handbills  and  gave  them  through  the  town.  Five 
hundred  attended,  and  a  thousand  thu  next  evening  in 
the  same  way,  as  the  preacher  v/ould  not  suffer  me  to 

publish  my  appointments  from  the  pulpit. 

"  On  my  arrival  in  London,  I  delivered  all  my  letters 

but  two  or  three,  Q.id  those  persons  could  not  be  found. 

At  one  place  the  woman,  to  whom  a  sum  of  money  was 

sent  from  her  friend  in  America,  would  hardly  give  m& 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  95 

access  to  deliver  it ;  she  was  so  afraid  of  strangers.  She 
tool^the  letter.  1  told  her  she  must  read  it,  and  I  must 
come  in.  Tho  daughter  said  'come  in,'  but  placed  her- 
self between  me  and  the  door,  that  she  might  alarm  the 
neighborhood  if  I  was  a  robber." 

Finding  himself  entirely  hedged  up  in  London,  and 
seeing  no  probability  of  an  opening,  he  speedily  return- 
ed to  Manchester,  and  again  spoke  a  few  times  in  the 
Chapel  belonging  to  the  New  Connection;  but  happen- 
ing to  deal  severely  with  Calvinism,  he  was  prohibited 
speaking  there  again.  "At  Warrington,"  he  writes, 
*'  we  had  a  great  revival,  which  brought  many  out  from 
other  vicinities  to  hear  and  see.  So.  that  I  got  invita- 
tions and  preached  at  Risley,  Appleton,  Thorn,  Lymn, 
Preston-brook  and  Frodshad.  I  also  visited  Bolton,. 
Hayton  Norley,  Preston,  and  the  File  country,  and  God 
was  with  me  opening  my  door,  step  by  step,  and  raising 
me  up  friends  against  times  of  need  ;  neither  did  he  suf- 
fer me  or  my  Peggy  to  want  in  this  strange  land,  though 
we  asked  no  assistance.  ^ 

"Travelling  so  extensively  exposed  me  to  a  fine  and 
imprisonment,  and  the  families  that  entertained  me  to  a 
fine  of  fifty  pounds  each,  as  my  license  was  limited. — 
But,  I  dare  not  do  otherwise  than  go. 

"  When  in  London,  Adam  Clarke  treated  me  as  a  gen- 
tleman ;  he  told  me  Dr.  Coke  was  to  preach  in  a  cer- 
tain place  that  evening.  So  off  I  ran,  as  hard  as  I  could 
pull,  to  see  the  little  man,  as  he  was  the  only  one  I  knew 
in  England.  They  were  singing,  as  I  entered  the  meet- 
ing house.  After  sermon,  I  got  one  to  introduce  me  to 
him  ;  but  though  he  first  appeared  friendly,  as  when  in 
Georgia,  yet,  on  finding  out  ray  nam.e  asked,  '  what  I 
came  there  for?'  and  before  I  could  tell  him,  he  turned 
to  another. 


96         THE  ECCENTRIC  preacher:  OR 

"  He  then  shook  hands  and  bade  all  in  the  room  fare- 
well except  me;  and  went  suddenly  off.  So  I  had  sev- 
en miles  to  walk  to  the  opposite  side  of  London,  late  at  • 
night.  The  next  time  I  saw  him  was  in  Lancashire^ 
where  I  asked  him  if  he  thought  he  should  be  at  the 
next  General  Conference.  I  saw  him  also  at  the  Dub- 
lin and  Leeds  Conferences,  but  did  not  speak  to  him,  as 
I  could  not  intrude  myself  with  propriety  any  more. — 
Many  wondered  the  Doctor  did  not  publish  me  ;  whilst 
others  inquired  '  What  for  ?'  " 

These  last  extracts  shew  us  pretty  clearly  the  views 
of  the  truly  great  men  alluded  to,  of  Lorenzo's  mode  of 
life.  They  evidently  disapproved  of  it  entirely.  Nor 
need  we  be  surprised  at  their  opinion.  When  we  con- 
sider the  embarrassments  and  persecutions  against 
which. Methodism  was  forcing  its  upward  and  onward 
progress,  it  is  no  wonder  its  v/armest  friends  and  bright- 
est ornaments  were  unwilling  to  share  the  responsibility 
of  encouraging  the  queer,  odd  and  uncouth  Lorenzo 
Dow.  Especially  could  they  not  do  this  as  Wesleyans, 
without  violating  the  excellent  rules  of  their  body.  How 
Mr.  Dow  could  complain  of  unkindness  in  being  exclu- 
ded Methodist  Chapels  is  strange.  He  was  not  a  Meth- 
odist, in  the  proper  sense  of  that  term — he  did  not  belong 
to  the  Methodist  Communion.  True,  he  preached  their 
distinctive  doctrines,  but  so  do  the  Freewill  Baptists,  the 
Moravians,  and  others ;  but  who  consider  them  Metho- 
dists on  that  account  ?  Neither  could  Mr.  Dow  be  con- 
sidered a  Methodist,  while  he  refused  to  submit  himself 
to  the  disciplinary  regulations  of  that  most  respectable 
and  increasing  body.  Indeed,  in  the  early  part  of  Lo- 
renzo's career,  he  was  fully  sensible  of  this,  and  expres- 
sed himself  as  being  more  leniently  treated  than  he  had 
reason  to  expect.    But  his  popularity  increased  his  sslf- 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  97 

importance,  and  led  him  to  fancy  injuries  where  none 
existed',  and  this,  ultimately,  led  him  to  become  the  de- 
cided foe  of  the  Methodist  economy. 

■  Mr.  Dow  continued  his  labors  in  the  towns  of  Preston, 
Loton,  Blackrod,  Carley,  &c.,  until  the  15th  of  May 
(1806),  when  he  returned  to  Liverpool,  where  his  "Peg- 
gy" had  remained  during  his  recent  excursions.  Here, 
he  completed  some  arrangement  for  the  publication  of 
his  journal,  and  after  preaching  a  few  times,  embarked 
for  Dublin,  where  he  arrived  on  the  20th.  His  meeting 
with  his  old  friend,  Dr.  Johnson,  we  shall  permit  him  to 
describe  in  his  own  language,  simply  premising,  that 
the  Doctor  and  his  lady  were  from  home,  on  an  after- 
noon visit,  when  they  reached  his  house. 

"  The  Doctor  returned  late  in  the  evening.  We  em- 
braced each  other  in  our  arms,  and  mamma  Letty  (the 
Doctor's  wife)  gave  me  a  kiss  and  a  hearty  welcome. — 
Thus,  I  was  cordially  received,  after  an  absence  of  five 
years,  one  month  and  eighteen  days. 

"  Thursday,  May  22nd.  The  Dutch  church  was  open- 
ed to  me,  by  invitation  to  the  Doctor  before  I  can:>6. 
But  the  wardens  considered  themselves  slighted,  not 
having  been  consulted.  However,  as  I  was  not  willing 
to  be  called  a  thief  or  robber,  I  chose  to  come  in  by  the 
door,  and  went  to  the  wardens  accordingly.  This  church 
belongs  to  the  German  congregation,  but  is  occupied  by 
the  Methodists.  I  held  a  number  of  meetings  there, 
whicli  were  respectable  and  very  profitable  to  many. 

"Alice  Cambridge,  the  woman  who  was  so  attentive 
to  me  when  in  this  country  before,  still  continues  her 
meetings.  She  now  gave  them  up  for  me,  and  another 
company  did  the  same,  so  that  my  way  was  opened,  and 
tlie  quickening  power  of  God  seemed  to  be  present  at 
most  of  the  meetinirs," 


98 


THE  ECCE.NTRIC  PREACHER:    OR 


The  tide  of  ancient  prejudice  that  had  threatened  to 
overflow  Lorenzo  during  his  former  visit  to  Ireland,  now- 
turned  in  his  favor,  and  he  found  himself  invited  to  make 
a  short  tour  in  company  with  two  of  the  Methodist  mis- 
sionaries. With  these  he  visited  several  towns  in  the 
vicinity  of  Dublin,  preaching  and  meeting  with  many 
who  remembered  his  former  visits,  and  hailed  him  as  a 
welcome  friend.  Still,  he  and  his  friends  met  with 
strong  opposition  from  wicked  men.  While  at  Kilken- 
'ny,  "the  mayor  had  a  potatoe  flung  at  his  head,  and  also 
received  a  letter,  without  a  signature,  threatening,  that, 
if  he  did  not  put  us  three  out  of  town,  his  house  should 
be  pulled  down  over  his  head." 

Returning  to  Dublin,  he  found  the  Irish  Conference 
in  session.  Among  the  preachers,  a  tolerating  spirit  in 
regard  to  him  prevailed.  A  letter  from  a  preacher  in 
America,  denouncing  him  as  an  impostor,  failed  of  its 
object  by  the  severity  of  spirit  in  which  it  was  written, 
and  Mr.  Dow  received  many  invitations  from  the  preach- 
ers to  visit  them  in  their  circuits.  Some  of  his  former 
opposers  were  now  silent,  so  that  this,  on  many  accounts, 
was  one  of  the  palmiest  periods  of  his  life.  About  this 
time,  he  published  the  second  volume  of  his  journal. 

On  the  1:2th  of  July,  in  company  with  his  constant 
friend.  Dr.  Johnson,  he  again  landed  in  Liverpool.  Hold- 
ing several  meetings  in  Warrington,  he  proceeded  to 
Knuttsford  and  Macclesfield.  Here  he  made  the  follow- 
ing judicious  note  in  his  journal : 

"A  man  being  urged  by  his  friends  to  read  deistical 
books,  when  dying,  cursed  the  instigators  of  Tom 
Paine's  Age  of  Reason,  being  in  black  despair.  Oh  ! 
how  careful  should  people  be  of  what  they  ask  others  to 
do ;  for  one  act  may  cause  repentance  with  tears,  in 
vain,  without  a  possibility  of  retraction. 


LORENZO  DOW's  LIFE  APiD  TRAVELS.  99 

"Sunday,  July  20th.  My  labors  were  equal  to  seven 
sermons,  which  gave  me  a  fine  sweat,  that  was  very  re- 
freshing. In  speakin^r  tv/ice  in  the  street,  I  addressed 
about  five  thousand.  I  observed,  that  for  people  to  make 
a  noise,  and  say  loud  amensj  was  irksome  to  me,  and  I 
would  like  as  well  to  hear  a  dog  bark,  unless  it  came 
from  a  proper  feeling  in  the  heart,  which  w^ould  carry  its 
own  conviction  with  it ;  otherv/ise,  it  would  appear  flat 
and  bring  a  deadness  over  the  mind.  And  to  make  a 
fuss  and  pretend  feeling  without  possessing  it,  is  mere 
hypocrisy,  like  a  man  wiih  a  vessel  partly  filled  with 
■water  saying  it  was  running  over,  and  to  prove  it,  tilting 
the  cup  that  it  might  run  out.  Yet,  if  people  feel  the 
power  of  God  constraining  them  to  cry  for  mercy  or 
shout  for  joy,  I  can  bear  it  as  well  as  any  one,  and  dare 
not  oppose  it,  knowing  that  God  communicates  these 
blessings  that  others  also  may  be  benefitted.  I  have 
seen  a  general  movement,  through  one  such  case,  more 
than  through  a  whole  sermon ;  which,  if  the  person  had 
suppressed,  he  would  have  quenched  the  Spirit  of  God.'* 

From  Macclesfield  they  proceeded  to  Stockport,  Old- 
ham and  Leeds;  Lorenzo  preaching  on  the  way  in  the 
meeting  houses  of  the  seceders  from  the  old  Wesleyan 
body.  While  in  this  city,  the  British  Wesleyans  held 
their  Conference,  and  Lorenzo,  through  the  influence  of 
his  friend,  Dr.  Johnson,  had  an  interview  with  the  cele- 
brated Dr.  Clarke ;  one  subject  of  their  conversation, 
■was  Mr.  Dow's  "singular  way  of  proceeding,  which  he 
could  not  at  all  approbate;  assigning  as  a  reason,  that 
if  once  generally  adopted  by  the  body,  it  would  destroy 
Methodism  in  three  months.  This  barred  hia  mind 
against  listening  to  any  arguments  in  favor  of  exceptions 
to  the  general  rules  for  particular  cases." 

Mr.  Dow  parted  from  his  friend,  Dr.  Johnson,  in  the 


100  THE  ECCENTRIC  preacher:    OR 

neighborhood  of  Leeds,  and  visiting  Bolton,  Hayton, 
Preston.  Blackrod,  &c.,  returned  to  Liverpool,  arranged 
affairs  with  his  publisher,  aild  sailed  for  Dublin,  where 
he  arrived  on  the  8th  of  August,  an3  found  his  wife  and 
friends  in  good  health.  A  few  extracts  will  give  the 
reader  a  correct  idea  of  his  labors  and  success  and  diffi- 
culties while  in  Dublin  and  vicinity  on  this  visit. 

"Monday,  Aug.  12th.  I  find  Matthew  Lanktree  is 
appointed  to  Dublin.  He  would  be  willing  to  let  me 
have  the  pulpit,  but  the  trustees  were  in  the  way.  Alice 
Cambridge  gave  up  her  meetings  always  to  me,  and  her 
room  in  Golden-lane  is  also  open  for  me.  This  room  I 
conceive  to  be  better  filled  than  any  worship  place  in 
Dublin. 

"Sunday,  17th.  By  invitation,  I  took  coach  with  two 
friends  to  Balbrigger.  A  little  deformed  man  behaved 
as  if  a  legion  of  devils  was  in  him.  He  would  neither 
be  still  nor  civil,  but  profligate,  apparently  in  order  to 
irritate  and  rufRe  me 

"I  saw  church  service  performed,  but  never  saw  any 
thing  so  much  like  a  sham  to  represent  reality  :  neither 
had  I  ever  a  greater  sense  of  the  difference  between 
praying  and  saying  prayers.  I  thought  if  human  wis- 
dom could  invent  a  machine  to  go  by  steam,  to  preach 
and  pray  and  say  amen  ;  to  make  the  organ  play  to 
charm  a  parcel  of  beasts,  it  would  be  divine  worship  as 
much  in  reality,  as  some  things  which  are  now  substi- 
tuted for  it." 

'  The  following  description  of  a  sod  chapel  will  be  in- 
teresting to  the  reader. 

"Sunday,  24th,  I  walked  to  the  camp,  [a  barracks, 
probably — Ed.]  and  spoke  in  a  hut  built  by  the  soldiers. 
This  was  built  in  the  following  manner: 

"James  Ransford  frequently  held  meetings  in  various 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  101 

places  with  the  army,  and  here,  they  had  no  place  but  a 
quarry  in  a  corn  field,  where  they  were  much  exposed 
to  the  weather.  As  no  person  would  hire  them  a  place, 
he  applied  to  the  barrack  master  and  obtained  leave  to 
cut  sods  to  make  a  wall.  They  set  to  work  and  cut  a 
platform  out  of  the  side  of  a  hill,  leaving-  the  back  to 
form  a  wall,  with  a  place  al  the  bottom  projecting  for  a 
seat.  The  three  reinaining  sides  were  sods  or  turf  beat- 
en solid :  then,  a  kind  of  rafter  was  placed  on  the  top  to 
be  thatched  with  straw.  At  this  stage  of  the  work,  they 
were  put  to  their  shifts  to  know  how  to  complete  it,  as 
their  finances  were  now  out:  but  half  an  hour  after  their 
discouragement  from  want  of  straw,  an  officer  brought 
them  a  pound  note,  and  shortly  after,  some  shillings :  so 
the  house  was  completed,  and  would  contain  about  one 
hundred  persons.  Most  of  the  officers  attended  my 
meeting,  and  among  them,  the  head  one. 

"Tuesday,  Sept  2nd.  The  Devil,  viewing  the  dan- 
ger of  his  kingdom,  began  to  work  in  the  minds  of  the 
people,  and  to  raise  confusion  and  disturbance.  How- 
ever, on  my  return  from  meeting,  I  took  a  street  out  of 
my  customary  way,  by  which  means  I  escaped  the  rab- 
ble, who  were  in  pursuit,  one  of  whom  Avas  heard  to  say, 

"'Now  for  the  life  of  Lorenzo!'  and  another, 

"Mind  the  white  hat!' 

"The  former  escaped  by  desperate  exertion,  with  his 
coat  much  torn  and  dirted.  The  latter  was  secured  bv 
my  friends,  and  kept  by  the  watchmen  until  morning ; 
when  the  magistrate,  being  partial,  discharged  him  at 
the  earnest  intercession  of  his  mother. 

"The  next  meeting,  some  peace  officers,  with  others, 
brought  swords,  pistols,  &c.,  but  1  retired  unobserved 
through  an  intricate  passage,  and  so  baffled  the  mob. 
Another  night  a  friend  changed  hats  with  me,  and  so 
they  were  deceived.  • 


102  THE  ECCENTRIC  PEEACKKR:    OR 

"  My  frien'ls  finding  fault  at  my  retiring-  so  obscurely, 
I  came  off  with  the  Doctor  in  my  usual  way :  and  one,, 
beginning;  to  call  for  the  mob,  received  a  blow  on  the 
head  which  kept  him  quiet.  However,  about  halfway, 
a  drunken  attorney,  in  derision,  asked  us  'if  we  had  a 
good  meeting  ;'  to  which  we  replied,  '  Yes,  but  thy  mas- 
ter's servants  did  not  like  it.'  A  friend,  interrogating 
him  concerning  his  obscene  and  scurrilous  rep'y,  receiv- 
ed a  blow  for  an  answer;  for  which  the  attorney  was 
taken  into  custody,  though  not  without  a  torn  shirt, .&c." 

On  the  16th  of  this  month,  September,  Mrs.  Dow  pre- 
sented our  hero  with  a  daughter.  She  thus  describes 
his  emotions  on  first  gazing  upon  his  infant: 

"He  came  to  the  bed  and  took  the  child, observing  to 
me  that  we  had  got  an  additional  charge,  which  if  spar- 
ed, would  prove  a  blessing  or  else  one  of  the  greatest 
trials  we  could  possibly  meet." 

Of  herself  and  child  at  this  interesting  period,  Mrs. 
Dow  writes : 

"TiieLord  was  my  support,  and  brouglit  me  safely 
tlirough.  Tiie  friends  were  very  kind  to  me,  and  in 
about  two  weeks  I  was  able  to  leave  my  room.  My 
heart  was  glad  when  I  viewed  my  little  daughter.  She 
was  a  sweet  infant  But  O,  how  short-lived  are  earthly 
joys!" 

We  will  now  return  to  Lorenzo's  experience  among 
the  mobites  of  Dublin,  for  these  had  not  yet  exhausted 
their  fury. 

"29th  (Sept.).  Justice  Bell  interrupted  our  meeting, 
saying,  'I  could  not  talk  common  English,  because  I 
used  the  word  '  besom,''  for  which  he  was  put  out  of  the 
house,  receiving  several  blows  on  his  passage. 

"Several  persons  were  considerably  injured  in  the 
hubbub,  and  getting  out  of  the  window.    Among  these 


LORE^'ZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  1C3 

was  a  young  woman  who  had  a  bone  of  her  arm  put  out 
of  joint,  and  the  next  evening  absconding  again,  as  Bell's 
sons  were  present  with  drawn  swords,  she  felt  convicted 
for  littleness  of  faith,  which  she  acknowledged  the  next 
day  at  meeting,  and  has  since  been  happy  in  religion. 

"Saturday  evening,  there  also  was  a  hubbub,  and  one 
or  two  hundred  persons  came  home  with  me  to  escort 
me,  which  caused  a  rumpus  through  the  streets,  as  some 
were  friends  and  some  were  foes.  Sundry  on  each  side 
were  given  to  the  watch,  but  the  aldermen  were  such 
poor  things  that  none  of  the  disorderly  were  brought  to 
trial. 

"23rd.  Being  informed  of  some  little  uneasiness  in 
the  man  who  lent  us  the  house  in  Golden  Lane,  as  the 
mob  had  broken  the  windows  and  escaped  without  pros- 
ecution, I  thought  proper  to  discontinue  my  meetings, 
and  so  appointed  the  last  for  the  next  day  afternoon,  and 
a  contribution  to  repair  the  injuries." 

After  attending  the  preceding  appointment,  it  seems 
that  Mr.  Dow,  at  the  especial  request  of  his  friends, 
preached  a  few  times  more  though  in  imminent  peril  of 
his  life  from  the  increasing  ferocity  of  the  mobs.  He 
also  suffered  severe  affliction  from  convulsions,  for  which 
his  tried  friend,  the  Doctor,  readily  prescribed. 

On  the  23d  of  October,  he  left  Dublin  for  Liverpool 
in  company  with  the  Doctor ;  and  with  Peggy  and  his 
babe,  now  five  weeks  old,  reached  his  old  friend  Phil- 
lips', at  Warrington,  on  the  26th.  From  this  date  to  the 
"beginning  of  December,  Lorenzo  employed  himself  in 
visiting  various  places  in  the  vicinity  of  Warrington  and 
Liverpool.  We  will  extract  such  incidents  from  the 
record  of  these  labors  as  possess  any  interest. 

"Several  strange  things  had  taken  place  here  (Mac- 
clesfield), among  which  were  the  following: 


104  THE  ECCENTRIC  preacher:     OR 

"  A  dumb  boy  who  had  seen  me  cutting  the  initials  of 
my  name  upon  a  tree,  as  he  was  passing  by  on  crutch- 
es, came  to  meeting.  He  got  happy  and  desired  to  ex- 
press it  to  others ;  and  was  enabled  to  do  so,  in  speech 
and  song,  to  the  surpi-ise  of  the  people. 

"  A  deist,  who  had  been  an  officer  in  both  the  Navy 
and  Army,  a  great  profligate  and  a  disciple  of  Vol- 
taire, heard  of  the  American  preacher  with  the  white  hat, 
&c.  Happening  to  see  me  in  the  street,  he  was  excited 
by  curiosity  to  come  to  meeting  ;  and  whilst  I  related  a 
story  of  a  negro,  who  feeling  happy  shouted  the  praise 
of  God,  and  was  asked  by  a  gentleman  deist  passing  by  , 

"  '  Negro,  what  do  you  praise  God  for  ?  Negroes  have 
got  no  souls  I' 

"  The  negro  replied — 

" '  Massa,  if  black  man  got  no  soul,  religion  make  my 
body  happy  ;'  the  power  of  God  fastened  it  on  the  offi- 
cer's mind,  and  he  wanted  his  body  happy  and  could  not 
rest  until  he  gave  up  his  deism  and  found  what  tlie  ne- 
gro expressed." 

At  Frodsham,  a  backslidden  Methodist  was  seized  with 
deep  feeling,  while  Lorenzo  with  one  hand  on  his  (the 
backslider's)  hair  and  the  other  on  his  heart,  addressed 
hiui  relative  to  his  state.  At  Liverpool,  finding  his  print- 
er unfaithful  and  cross,  he  writes  that  it  reminded  him 
of  one  who  said  : 

"'I  always  know  a  Calvinist  by  his  temper.' 

"  One  present  replied, — 

" '  That 's  a  lie  ;'  when  his  friend  rejoined, 

" '  Hah !  Leviathan,  have  I  drawn  thee  out  with  a 
hook  ?  '  " 

At  Macclesfield,  there  appears  to  have  been  consid- 
erable excitement  under  his  labors,  as  was  the  case  in 
some  other  towns  he  visited  at  this  time. 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  ]05 

Returning  to  Warrington  he  found  his  '  Peggy'  sick 
of  a  dangerous  fever,  Avhich  raged  with  great  fury  for 
many  weeks ;  so  that  at  times  her  life  was  despaired  of. 
In  this  sickness,  it  became  necessary  to  remove  her  babe 
from  her  care,  and  a  kind  friend,  ten  miles  distant,  offer- 
ing to  nurse  it  carefully,  it  was  sent  thither. 

'  No  sooner  had  the  crisis  of  her  fever  passed,  than  Mr. 
Dow,  feeling  himself  bound  to  make  a  general  tour  of 
Ireland,  before  ho  left  for  America,  determined  to  leave 
his  wife  to  the  care  of  his  friends,  and  pursue  the  path 
maikcd  out  by  his  convictions  of. seeming  duty.  Stating 
his  mental  exercises  and  purposes  to  'Peggy,'  she  told 
him,  "  the  same  merciful  God  presides  over  us  when  sep- 
arated, as  when  together;  and  he  will  provide  for  me,  as 
he  has  done  in  a  strange  land  through  my  present  sick- 
ness, and  I  wish  you  to  go  and  do  your  duty  !" 

Accordingly,  he  left  Warrington  and  started  for  Dub- 
lin by  the  way  of  Chester  and  Holyhead,  and  reached 
his  old  home.  Dr.  Johnson's,  about  the  13th  of  Decem- 
ber. During  his  stay,  of  a  few  days,  in  Dublin  he  was 
permitted  to  speak  in  the  Metliodist  chapels,  for  the  first 
time. 

It  would  only  be  a  tax  on  the  patience  of  the  reader- 
to  follow  Mr.  Dow  in  the  rapid  journey  he  now  made 
over  a  considerable  part  of  Ireland.  It  must  therefore 
suiRce  to  say,  that  in  "sixty-seven  days  he  travelled 
about  seventeen  hundred  miles,  and  held  about  two 
hundred  meetings,  in  most  of  which,  the  quickening  pow- 
er of  God  was  felt,  and  some  were  set  at  liberty  before 
WG  parted." 

During  his  absence  kis  child  was  removed  by  death. 
This  melancholy  event,  greatly  increased  the  afflictions 
of  Mrs,  Dow.  She  thus  relates  her  feelings  under  this 
uulooked  for  dispensation: 

7 


lOG  THE  ECCENTRYC   PREACHER:    OR 

"  They  kept  me  in  ignorance  of  her  sickness  until  she 
was  dead.  I  was  then  about  four  miles  from  her,  where 
I  had  gone  the  day  before  she  died.  A  kind  sister  walk- 
ed that  distance  to  let  me  know  that  my  little  Letitia 
was  no  more,  lest  some  one  should  too  abruptly  commu- 
nicate the  heavy  tidings,  as  my  health  was  not  yet  re- 
stored. I  v/as  much  surprised  to  see  sister  Wade  come. 
I  asked  her  how  my  child  was  ?  She  made  no  reply. 
It  struck  my  mind  very  forcibly,  that  she  was  no  more. 
I  requested  her  to  tell  me  the  worst,  for  I  was  prepared 
for  it.  My  mind  had  been  impressed  with  a  foreboding 
for  some  time  !  She  told  me  the  child  was  gone  to  re- 
turn no  more  to  me.  It  went  to  my  heart  in  sensations 
I  cannot  express  :  it  was  a  sorrow,  but  not  without  hope. 
The  summons  was  sent  by  Him,  who  has  a  right  to  give 
and  take  away.  He  had  removed  my  innocent  infant 
far  from  a  world  of  grief  and  sin,  perhaps  for  my  good ;. 
for  I  often  felt  my  heart  too  m.uch  attached  to  it — so 
much,  that  I  feared  it  would  draw  me  from  my  duty  to 
God.  O,  the  danger  of  loving  any  creature  in  prefer- 
ence to  our  Savior.  I  felt  as  one  alone :  my  Lorenzo  in 
Ireland — ray  child  was  gone  to  a  happier  clime.  I  strove 
to  sink  into  the  will  of  God  ;  but  the  struggle  was  very 
severe,  although  I  thought  I  could  say  '  The  Lord  gave 
and  the  Lord  hath  taken  away,  blessed  be  the  name  of 
the  Lord.' " 

Mr.  Dow's  feelings  may  be  seen  by  the  follov.'ing. — 
He  was  at  Portarlington  when  he  received  the  news : 
he  writes, 

"Here  I  received  the  solemn  news  of  the  death  of  our 
only  child.  I  felt  as  if  part  of  iiiyself  were  gone  ;  yet 
could  not  murmur,  but  felt  submission.  Though  our 
Letitia  be  no  more  seen,  yet  she  has  escaped  the  evil  to 
come  with  all  the  vain  snares  of  this  delusive  world.    I 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  ]C7 

trust  it  is  not  lon^»'  before  we  shall  meet  above.  What 
mLfst  have  been  the  feelings  of  my  poor  Peggy  when  in 
a  strange  land  ?  given  over  to  die  — at  least  with  small 
probability  of  ever  meeting  again ;  her  husband  and 
child  absent — and  then  the  news  of  the  death  of  the  lat- 
ter to  reach  her  ears  ?     Experience  can  only  tell !" 

In  his  last  visit  to  Dublin,  he  was  greatly  assisted  and 
encouraged  by  the  countenance  and  friendship  of  a  gen- 
tleman named  Averill,  whose  character  in  many  respects 
appears  very  similar  to  that  of  his  wandering  friend. — 
The  following  account  of  Mr.  Averill's  conversion  and 
proceedings  we  give  from  Mr.  Dow's  journal,  as  it  pos- 
sesses some  interest. 

"  I  visited  Mountrath  and  Pentore,  where  Mr.  Averill 
li\'es.  His  conversion  was  as  follows  His  grandmother 
was  a  good  church-woman  for  the  times.  A  church 
clergyman  gave  him  a  rap  on  the  head  v.ith  a  cane,  in 
play,  when  he  was  six  years  old.  He  said: 
'  '"Grandmother,  I  wish  that  man  would  never  come 
again  1' 

" '  What !'  said  she,  '  wish  God's  minister  w  ould  nev- 
er come  again  I" 

"Feeling  a  large  bunch  on  his  head,  the  effect  of  the 
blow,  she  was  exasperated  also.  He  desired  an  expla- 
nation why  the  man  preached.  She  said  to  save  peo- 
ple ;  but  he  would  not  preach  unless  he  was  well  paid 
for  it.  While  she  was  thus  explaining  things  to  his  un- 
derstanding, he  felt  a  great  light  or  coinfort  break  into 
his  mind  ;  but  could  not  tell  the  cause,  nor  what  it  was. 
k  lasted  nearly  twelve  months.  He  said  to  his  grand- 
mother, 

"' '  When  I  am  grown  up  I  will  preach  for  nothing.' 

"  She  replied,  *  that  is  a  good  resolution  ;  but  you  will 
forn-et  it' 


108  THE  ECCENTRIC  PREACHER:  OR 

"Soon  after,  his  father  lost  a  purse  of  gold,  and  said 
the  child  who  found  and  returned  it  should  have  what- 
ever he  would  ask.  He  (Mr.  Averill)  found  it  and  said, 
let  me  go  to  college  instead  of  my  elder  brother.  His 
father  consented,  and  thus  he  got  his  education  and  be- 
came a  church  minister,  but  preached  for  hire. 

"  One  day  when  visiting  'his  parish,  he  called  on  a 
family  of  Quakers.     They  asked, 

'"Art  thou  the   man   who  preaches  in  the  steq^le 
house  ?'  and  one  said,  'Don't  thee  preach  for  hire  ?' 
"  He  replied,  '  Ye^"!.' 
"  '  Dost  thee  think  it  right  ?' 
"  '  I  don't  know  that  it  is  wrong.' 
" '  I  did  not  ask  thee  if  thou  thought  it  wrong,  but  dost 
thou  think  it  right?' 

"Here  he  thought  of  his  youthful  promise  ;  and  so  he 
dare  not  say  it  was  right,  but  repeated  his  reply  of  not 
knowing  it  was  wrong.  Tiie  Q.uaker  then  inquired, 
" '  Art  thou  willing  for  light  on  this  subject  .^' 
"  He  replied,  'Yes.'  So  the  Quaker  gave  him  a  book 
against  hirelings,  which  he  read  with  attention,  and  ev- 
ery word  carried  conviction  to  his  mind,  and  induced 
him  to  give  up  his  curacy.  He  next  built  a  pulpit  in  his 
own  house  and  held  meetings.  Very  soon,  one  profes- 
sed to  be  converted,  and  to  know  his  sins  forgiven.  Mr. 
Averiil  reproved  him,  saying 

"  '  I  don't  know  my  own  forgiven  !' 
"  A  Methodist,  present,  said  '  If  you  don't  I  do,  and  if 
you  look  for  the  witness  God  will  give  it  you.' 

"  Soon  after,  Mr.  Averiil  experienced  the  same  peace- 
ful sensations  as  when  a  lad. 

"But  his  wife  left  him,  and  caused  him  much  sorrow 
and  anxiety,  though  he  allowed  her  two  hundred  pounds 
per  annum ;  because  he  was  determined  to  itinerate  and 

# 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  100 

preach  without  liire.    He  possessed  an  independent  for- 
tune. 

"The  order  of  providence  brought  him  anion^  the 
Methodists  ;  and  one  day  a  mob  saw  him  coming  over  a 
bridge,  and  one  said,  '  The  Devil  split  my  head  open  if  I 
don't  do  so  and  so  to  the  swadlet ;'  (the  Methodists  are 
called  swadlers  in  derision  in  Ireland)  but  the  restrain- 
ing- hand  of  God  kept  them,  and  he  passed  unhurt  The 
man  who  made  the  threat  dfterwards  had  his  head  open- 
ed by  a  French  sword,  on  the  continent!" 

Such  was  the  man  who  patronized  and  countenanced 
Mr.  Dow.  That  a  sympathy  should  exist  between  them 
is  not  surprising,  as  in  some  respects  they  were  alike  ; 
and  a  oneness  of  sentiment  and  practice,  on  points  about 
which  the  majority  around  us  differ  in  opinion,  naturally 
binds  us  to  each  other ;  hence,  as  Messrs.  Dow  and 
Averill  agreed  in  their  plan  of  itinerating  on  their  own 
responsibility,  and  in  being  irregular  with  respect  to  the 
requirements  of  their  respective  churches,  to  which  they 
originally  belonged,  they  were- prepared  to  enter  warm- 
ly into  each  other's  regards  and  affections,  and  to  aid 
each  other  to  the  utmost  of  their  mutual  ability. 

The  foUov/ing  passages  contain  Mr.  Dow's  views  and 
reflections  on  several  topics  connected  with  religion  and 
religious  worship  in  England  and  in  Ireland. 

"There  is  instrumental  music  in  most  of  the  leading 
chapels  in  England.  But  for  a  lad  to  start  up,  and  sing 
away  in  form  like  a  hero,,  and  yet  have  no  more  sense  of 
divine  worship  than  a  parrot  that  speaks  a  borrowed 
song,  I  ask  how  God  is  glorified  in  that?  If  mechanism 
was  in  such  perfection  as  to  have  a  machine  by  steam  to 
speak  words  in  form  of  sentences,  and  so  say  a  prayer, 
repeat  a  sermon,  and  play  the  music  and  say  amen, 
would  this  be  divine  worsliip  ?    No  !  There  is  no  divin- 


110  THE  ECCENTRIC  preacher:    OR 

ity  about  it.  It  is  only  mechanism.  Hence  if  we  have 
not  the  spirit  of  God,  our  worship  is  not  divine.  Conse- 
quently it  is  only  form,  and  form  without  power  is  only 
sham. 

*'  In  Europe,  there  is  much  more  stress  put  upon  forms, 
names  and  traditions  than  in  America.  You  can  scarce- 
ly give  a  greater  offence  than  to  ask : 

" '  Have  you  got  any  religion  P'     They  will  reply : 

"'Got  any  religion!  Think  I  am  a  heathen  !  Have 
I  got  my  religion  to  seek  at  this  time  of  day.  I  was  al- 
ways religious !' 

'"Ask  them,  'What  is  your  religion?'  and  they  an- 
swer, 'It  is  the  religion  of  my  father,  and  he  was  of  the 
religion  of  his  father,  the  good  old  way.  We  don't 
change  our  religion.' 

"Suppose  a  man  has  a  young  horse,  that  will  run  a 
race,  w  in  a  prize,  and  is  a  valuable  animal.  He  wills 
the  horse  to  his  son,  and  he  to  his  son,  and  so  on.  The 
horse  dies:  the  grandson  boasts,  'What  I  have  not  Tgot 
a. good  horse?  I  have.  My  grand f.ither  raised  him, 
willed  him  to  my  father,  who  gave  him  to  me.  I  can 
prove  by  my  neighbors  he  ran  such  a  race,  and  won 
such  a  prize.' 

''  But  on  inspection  it  is  found  that  only  the  bones  are 
remaining.  Look  at  many  of  the  sects  and  compare 
them  now,  with  the  history  of  their  ancestors,  and  a 
chanc'e  will  be  visible." 

'•Two  or  three  centuries  ago,  perhaps  their  ancestors 
had  religion,  and  were,  for  stigma,  called  a  name  that 
has  been  attached  to  ihe'iv  form  and  handed  down  from 
father  to  son.  These  ancestors,  living  in  the  divine  life 
of  rv'ligion,  in  that  divine  life  have  gone  to  heaven  ;  as 
Christ  said,  'My  sheep  hear  my  voice  and  follow  me, 
and  I  give  unlo  them  eternal  life,'  &c.     The  children, 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  Ill 

bearing  tlie  same  name,  think  they  have  the  same  relig- 
ion ;  but  on  examination  there  is  no  more  divine  life 
about  this  form  than  animal  life  about  the  bones  of  the 
old  horse ;  and,  of  course,  will  no  more  carry  a  man  to 
heaven  than  the  bones  will,  with  whip  and  spurs,  carry 
a  man  a  journey.  Because  bible  religion  is  what  we 
must  have  especially  ;  for  the  ancients  were  'filled  with 
joy  and  with  the  Holy  Gliost,'  and  '  without  holiness  no 
man  shall  see  the  Lord,'  but 'blessed  are  the  pure  in 
heart,  for  they  shall  see  God.' " 

We  have  before  observed  that  Lorenzo's  mind  had  for 
some  time  been  directed  towards  America.  This  in- 
ward inclination  he  supposed  to  be  a  monition  of  his 
duty  from  the  Holy  Spirit ;  and  he  therefore  prepared  to 
obey  it.  It  was  this  conviction  which  led  him  to  leave 
his  Peggy  in  her  precarious  state  of  health,  and  make 
his  general  tour  over  Ireland,  already  noted.  It  seems 
that  these  impressions  were  the  guides  by  which  he  di- 
rected his  steps  in  his  wanderings.  If  they  proceeded 
from  the  Divine  Spirit,  he  did  right  in  following^them; 
but  of  this  there  is  much  room  to  doubt,  since  the  de- 
sires and  inclinations  of  our  own  fickle  hearts  may  easily 
be  confounded  with  the  teachings  of  a  higher  Monitor. 
But  of  Lorenzo's  impressions,  the  reader  must  form  his 
own  judgment.  It  is  our  province  to  furnish  him  with 
facts,  and  this  done,  our  task  is  accomplished. 


112  THE  ECCENTKIC   PREACHER  !    OR 


CHAPTER  IX. 

1,  LOr.EXZo's    RETURN    TO    AMERICA. 

Having  decided  to  return  to  his  native  land,  Mr.  Dow 
speedily  made  the  necessary  preparations.  A  nunjber 
of  Irish  emigrants  proposed  to  accompany  him,  arid  he 
therefore  engaged  the  entire  steerage  of  a  vessel  for 
their  accommodation.  Their  departure  is  described  in 
the  journal  of  Ivlrs.  Dow,  from  wliich  we  make  the  fol- 
lowing excerpts : 

"  There  had  a  number  of  people  determined  to  come 
from  Ireland  to  America,  and  were  to  meet  us  in  April, 
consequently  v/e  had  but  a  few  weeks  to  stay  in  and' 
about  Warrington.  I  had  become  so  much  attached  to 
the  friends,  it  was  truly  painful  to  part  with  them.  Our 
friends  came  from  various  parts  of  the  country  to  bid  us 
farowell,  and  we  had  sweet  and  melting  times  together, 
not  expecting  to  meet  again  until  v.e  should  meet  in  a 
blissful  eternity. 

"We  left  Warrington  for  Lymn,  where  Lorenzo 
preached  and  bade  the  people  farewell.  They  were 
much  affected.  We  parted  with  a  hope  of  meeting  in  a 
better  and  happier  world. 

"  From  thence  we  went  to  Preston-brcok,  where  Lo- 
renzo preached  another  farewell.  It  was  a  precious 
time  to  njany.  From  there  to  Frodsham.  The  people 
fiocked  around  him-with  the^Tcatest  affection, for  tliere 
the  Lord  had  blest  his  labws'  in  a  peculiar  manner. 

"From  thence  he  w^'to  Chester,  the  most  ancient 
city,  perhaps,  in  that  country,  except  London.  He  left 
me  to  come  in  a  coach  a  few  days  after,  while  he  visited 
the  country  adjacent. 

"We  left  Chester  for  Liveruool  in  a  little  sail  boat, 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  ]  13 

and  the  river  was  somewhat  rough.  There  were  many 
passengers,  which  made  it  quite  unpleasant,  but  we  ar- 
rived safely  in  the  evening,  and  met  our  friends  from 
Ireland  who  intended  to  go  with  us  to  America." 

Mr.  Dow's  journal  is  somewhat  obscure  in  its  de- 
scriptjipn  of  certain  difficulties  he  experienced  in  leaving 
England ;  but  from  his  imperfect  hints  and  Peggy's 
statements  together,  we  glean  the  following  facts: 

In  consequence  of  the  unsettled  state  of  affairs  in 
England  at  that  time,  he  intimates,  that  none  were  per- 
mitted to  leave  the  country  without  passports.  These, 
he,  in  vain,  endeavored  to  obtain,  and,  agreeably  with 
his  wonted  resolution  of  character,  determined  to  leave 
without  them.  A  search  was  ordered  to  be  made  ip  the 
vessel  he  had  engaged ;  but,  she  having  in  the  mean- 
while proved  unseaworthy,  he  had  obtained  passage  for 
himself  and  friends  in  another,  and  actually  sailed  out 
of  port  while  the  officers  of  government  were  in  the  act 
of  searching  the  other  ship. 

Some  of  the  emigrants  who  accompanied  him  also  oc- 
casioned him  some  difficulty.  They  charged  him  with 
wronging  them  by  accepting  presents  from  the  captain, 
and  also  of  deceiving  them  in  his  descriptions  of  Amer- 
ica, &:c.  Writhing  under  these  charges,  he  writes,  in 
reference  to  his  accusers : 

"  The  sin  of  ingratitude  is  one  of  the  most  abominable 
crimes  that  the  heart  of  man  can  be  contaminated  with, 
and  very  obnoxious  in  the  sight  of  heaven.  And  is  evi- 
dently marked  with  just  displeasure  in  righteous  retri- 
butions. 

"  A  certain  pair,  whose  passage  the  king  paid  from 
the  old  world  to  the  new,  were  smiled  on  by  fortune  in 
Alexandria.  They  afterwards  left  the  country  in  con- 
tempt, exclaiming, 


114  THE  ECCENTRIC  PREACHER*.    OR 

"'The  lest  flour  in  America  is  not  equal  to  the  mud 
of  London.' 

"At  London,  they  put  their  barrel  of  dollars  in  a  pri- 
vate bank,  which  broke  a  few  days  after,  and  he  then 
had  to  turn  porter  and  stand  in  the  mud,  to  get  where- 
with to  support  nature." 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dow  sailed  from  Liverpool  in  the  Aver- 
ick,  Capt.  De  Cost,  master,  on  the  sixth  of  May,  (1807) 
and  arrived  at  New  Bedford,  (Ms.)  the  latter  end  of  June. 
Of  their  passage,  Mrs.  Dow  says, 

"  We  had  a  very  pleasant  voyage,  except  that  the  pas- 
sengers were  generally  sick  for  more  than  a  week,  all 
but  my  husband  and  myself.  I  was  never  in  better 
health  in  my  life.  We  had  some  good  times  on  board. 
Lorenzo  preached  to  the  people  on  Sundays,  and  we  had 
prayers  night  and  morning,  when  the  weather  would, 
admit." 

They  remained  nearly  two  weeks  in  New  Bedford, 
when  Mr.  D.,  leaving  his  wife  to  follow  in  the  ship  to 
Virginia,  started  for  New  York  by  a  packet.  From 
thence  he  proceeded  to  Virginia  by  land,  where  he  met 
Peggy.  They  then  returned  to  New  England.  This 
journey  Mrs.  Dow  describes  in  the  following  manner : 
"  We  went  through  New  London  and  Lynchburg, 
(Va.)  where  we  met  with  m.any  friends  and  attended  a 
Camp  Meeting  in  Amherst :  from  thence  to  Glasgow, 
where  Lorenzo  preached  at  night.  We  stayed  at  an  old 
gentleman's  house,  who  was  very  friendly.  Thence  we 
continued  our  journey  to  a  Camp  Meeting  near  George- 
town, where  we  stayed  until  the  meeting  broke  up.  Our 
horse  was  at  some  person's  place  and  I  expect  got  noth- 
ing to  eat,  for  we  only  went  from,  the  Camp  Meeting  to 
Lcesburg ;  and  from  there  to  another  little  town,  which 
was  but  two  short  dayo'  travel.    Before   we  reached 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  115 

there,  he  tired,  and  Lorenzo  was  obl'ored  to  trade  him 
away.  However,. we  got  on  to  New  York,  Avhere  I  met 
with  some  friends  I  h;id  seen  before,  whicli  were  the 
first  ftices  I  had  met  with  for  two  years,  that  I  had  ever 
beheld  before ;  which  gave  me  much  satisfaction  ! 

"  We  stayed  at  New  York  for  several  weeks,  and  tlien 
started  for  New  England  to  visit  Lorenzo's  father.  I 
had  never  seen  him,  nor  any  of  the  family,  except  one 
sister.  It  was  a  great  cross  to  me,  but  we  arrived  at  his 
father's  house  some  time  in  September,  and  were  joy- 
fully received.  Lorenzo  held  several  meetings  in  the 
neighborhood.  We  went  to  Tolland,  (Connilf  and  I  did 
not  expect  to  return  to  his  father's  any  more,  but  Loren- 
zo's sister  coming  from  Vermont,  we  returned." 

From  the  tone  of  Lorenzo's  journal,  it  seems  that  he 
had  considerable  trouble  to  contend  with  about  this  time. 
We  insert  a  few  paragraphs  descriptive  of  these  trials. 
The  reader  will  perceive  that  Mr.  Dow  here  speaks  of 
himself  under  the  name  of  "Cosmopolite." 

"  Whilst  in  Europe,  Cosmopolite  was  attacked  v.-ith 
spasms  of  a  most  extraordinary  kind,  which  baffled  the 
skill  of  the  most  celebrated  of  the  faculty,  and  reduced 
his  nervous  strength  and  shook  his  constitution  to  the 
centre,  more  than  all  his  kbors*  heretofore.  Now  his 
sun  appeared  declining,  and  his  career  drawing  to  a 
close.  But  the  idea  of  yielding  and  giving  up  the  itin- 
erant sphere,  was  trying  to  Costiiopolite,  seeing  it  was 
his  element  and  paradise  to  preach  the  gospel.  Hence 
ho-  got  a  stiff  leather  jacket,  girted  with  buckles,  to  serve 
as  stays,  to  support  the  tottering  frame,  and  to  enable 
him  to  ride  on  horseback.  This  the  doctors  remonstra- 
ted against.  When  it  would  answer  no  further,  he  took 
to  the  gig  and  little  wagon:  but  was  obliged  to  sit  or 


*^ 


m 


116  THE  ECCENTRIC  PREACHER:    OR 

lay  down  some  part  of  the  meeting  to  finish  his  discourse, 
and  this  for  most  seven  years. 

"  Some  could  or  would  not  make  the  necessary  dis- 
tinction between  voluntary  singularity  and  a  case  of  ex- 
treme necessity.  But  such  a  cavilling  argues  an  unre- 
generate  mind,  and  is  too  much  tainted  with  '  moral  evil.' 
"  Cosmopolite  had  bought  a  pair  of  mules,  which  were 
to  have  been  fitted  to  his  carriage  against  his  return 
from  Europe;  but  in  lieu  thereof,  were  put  in  a  wagon, 
and  so  broken  down  they  were  unfit  for  service.  Hence 
he  had  to  sell  them  for  about  half  their  value,  to  be  able 
to  prosecote?liis  journe5^  The  horse  he  had  was  shortly 
starved  so  as  to  fail,  and  he  was  obliged  to  part  with  him 
for  one  of  little  worth. 

"Shortly  followed  the  residue,  while  in  declining 
health.  From  New  England  he  was  found  in  the  Mis- 
sissippi territory,  having  travelled  there  by  land,  through 
Georgia,  where  he  received  letters  of  confirmation  that 
all  was  not  right." 

It  should  here  be  noted  that  after  Lorenzo  left  his 
father's,  in  the  fall  of  1807,  he  and  Mrs  Dow  went  to 
Virginia,  where  he  left  his  wife  with  a  Mrs  Wade,  one 
of  the  Irish  emigrants  before  noticed.  He  then  pro- 
ceeded to  the  Mississippi  Territory,  as  hinted  in  the  pre- 
ceding paragraph.  It  was  here  he  met  v.-ith  considera- 
ble pecuniary  embarrassment,  respecting  a  partial  pur- 
chase he  had  made  of  a  piece  of  land,  a  mill  frame,  Sic. 
He  returned  to  his  wife  in  June  (1808)  and  with  her  v/ent 
so  far  north  as  Albany,  where  he  left  her  again  for  five 
or  six  weeks  while  he  visited  his  father  in  Connecticut. 
Then,  he  conveyed  Peggy  to  Wheeling  (Va.)  where  he 
again  left  her  on  another  tour,  and  she  proceeded  to 
Tennessee  by  water  and  resided  v/ith  the  family  of  Mr 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  117 

Coburn  until  the  following  January  (1809),  when  Loren- 
zo conveyed  her  to  the  Mississippi  Territory. 

His  account  of  theso  journeys  is  very  brief.    He  says, 

"  Cosmopolite  went  for  his  rib  by  the  advice  and  con- 
sent of  friends,  whose  friendship  proved,  in  the  sequel, 
like  the  pine  tree  which  appears  as  good  timber,  but  up- 
on investigation  is  found  rotten  at  heart.  For,  after 
Cosmopolite  had  gone. over  most  of  the  Northern  States, 
he  returned  with  his  companion  to  that  part  (the  Missis- 
sippi) and  was  reduced  to  the  most  painful  situation  im- 
aginable. 

"  FirsX,  some  heavy  debts,  as  a<  consequence  of  pur^- 
chasing  sixty-four  acres  of  the  three  hundred  and  twen- 
ty-four :  though  he  had  but  about  twenty-four  remaining 
with  the  mill  frame  on  it,  having  parted  with  about  twen- 
ty to  be  able  to  work  through. 

"  Secondly — No  money  or  flush  loose  property. 

"Thirdly — A  sick  companion  without  house  or  home, 
this  being  the  time  when  friends  forsook  him — all  ex- 
cept a  deist  and  his  family. 

"Fourtly — Reputation  attacked  on  all  sides,  and  in 
remote  parts,  through  the  States.  Stories  that  Cosmop- 
olite was  revelling  in  riches  and  luxury,  Avith  a  fine 
brick  house,  sugar  and  cotton  plantations,  flour  and  saw 
mills,  slaves,  and  money  in  the  banks,  like  B,nabob  in  the 
East.  Others  made  us?  of  every  thing  they  could  that 
would  be  to  his  discredit,  among  which  some  few,  who 
had  subscribed  for  his  journal  and  paid  in  advance,  not 
getting  their  books,  construed  the  failure  into  a  design 
to  cheat ;  saying,  he  had  got  the  property  and  had  gone 
to  the  Mississippi  to  feather  his  nest 

"  Hence  arose  the.famous  expression : 

"The  Star  which  rose  in  the  East  is  set  in  the 
West." 


118  THE  ECCENTRIC  PREACHER  :    OR 

From  the  above  quotations  it  is  manifest  that  Loren- 
zo was  in  affliction.  It  seems  that  he  had  also  some 
money  transactions  with  certain  persons  in  the  State  o 
New  York,  that  occasioned  him  considerable  difficulty. 
But  from  the  loose  and  indefinite  manner  in  which  he 
states  the  case  in  his  journal,  it  is  next  to  impossible  to 
ascertain  the  precise  nature  of  the  diiFiculty  ;  nor  is  it 
worth  while  to  trouble  the  reader  with  his  personal  dif- 
ficulties" and  squabbles  with  others.  It  is  to  be  regret- 
ted that  he  ever  fell  into  them  ;  better,  had  he'  pursued 
his  way,  irre^fjular  as  it  \vas,  in  the  singleness  of  manner 
and  object  which  first  characterised  his  proceedings, 
than  to  have  plunged  into  pecuniary  speculations  to  the 
bewilderment  of  his  mind  and  the  crushing  of  his  influ- 
ence; which  despite  of  his  oddity  had  begun  to  be  con- 
siderable. 

Whether  the  charges  of  his  enemies  were  true  or 
false,  they  seriously  discouraged  him  for  a  time.  In- 
stead of  rising  stronger-  from  every  new  surge  that 
threatened  his  destruction,  as  at  the  first,  he  bent  be- 
neath the  pressure  of  his  trials  and  became  for  a  season 
almost  isolated  from  society.  His  Peggy  thus  describes 
the  manner  in  v.hich  they  spent  some  time  in  the  swamps 
of  Mississippi. 

"  Our  situation  was  truly  distressing.  We  scarcely 
kn,ew  which  way  to  turn.  Lorenzo  concluded  it  was 
best  to  prepare  some  place  of  shelter  from  the  storm,. 
that  appeared  to  have  come  to  such  a  pitch,  as  not  to  ad- 
mit of  rising  much  higher.  Sickness  and  poverty  had 
assailed  us  on  every  side,  and  many  who  had  professed 
to  be  our  friends  forsook  us.  It  was  circulating  through 
many  parts  that  we  were  rolling  iik  riches  and  surround- 
ed with  plenty.     We  were  however  in  quite  a  different 


# 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AlfSD  TRAVELS.  119 

situation,  witliout  house  or  any  thing  of  consequence  we 
could  call  our  own. 

"  There  was  a  tract  of  land  lying  in  the  midst  of  a 
thick  brake,  on  which  was  a  beautiful  spring  of  water 
breaking  out  at  the  foot  of  a  large  hill  which  some  per- 
son had  described  to  Lorenzo.  The  soil  belonged  to  the 
United  States,  and  the  cane  was  almost  impenetrable, 
being  from  thirty  to  forty  feet  high.  It -was  likewise  in- 
habited by  wild  beasts  of  prey  of  various  kinds,  and  ser- 
pents of  the  most  poisonous  nature.  Notwithstanding 
this,  Lorenzo  got  a  man  to  go  with  him  to  look  at  it,  ta 
see  if  it  would  do  for  an  asylum  for  us,  provided  we 
could  get  a  little  cabin  erected  near  the  spring.  After 
taking  a  survey  of  the  place,  he  concluded  to  make  a  tri- 
al ;  and  employed  a  man  accordingly  to  put  up  a  small 
log  cabin  within  ten  or  twelve  feet  of  the  spring,  which 
he  did,  after  cutting  down  the  cane  to  clear  a  place  to 
set  it.  A  way  was  also  made  from  a  public  road  to  the 
spot,  so  that  we  could  reach  it  on  horseback  or  on  foot 
We  obtained  a  few  utensils  for  keeping  house,  and  in 
March  removed  to  our  little  place  of  residence  in  the 
wilderness  or  rather,  as  it  appeared  to  me,  to  the  habita- 
tion of  exiles.  But  it  was  a  sweet  place  to  me.  'I  felt 
I  was  at  home,  and  many  times  the  Lord  was  precious 
to  rny  soul. 

"  We  stayed  here  nearly  four  months.  In  that  time 
Lorenzo  preached  as  much  as  his  strength  would  per- 
mit. We  were  sometimes  very  closely  run  to  gpt  what 
was  necessary  to  make  us  comfortable ;  yet  I  felt  quite 
contented.  I  had  in  a  good  degree  regained  my  health, 
so  that  I  was  able  to  labor,  and  I  strove  to  do  all  I  could 
for  a  living ;  though  my  situation  was  such  I  could  not 
do  as  much  as  I  wished.  But  the  Lord  provided  for  us 
beyond  what  we  could  have  expected." 


120        THE  ECCENTRIC  PREACHER  t  OR 

After  dwelling  in  this  solitary  hermitage  for  several 
months,  Lorenzo  removed  his  Peggy  to  a  log  house  near 
the  unfortunate  mill  frame,  which  had  caused  him  so 
much  trouble,  and  arranged  for  her  stay  with  several 
friends,  while  he  made  another  tour  of  the  States. 

Of  this  journey  we  find  no  record.  The  whole  year 
is  passed  over  in  silence.  At  the  expiration  of  one  year 
and  six  days  he  returned  and  met  with  his  wife  at  a 
place  about  twelve  miles  from  her  last  residence.  Here, 
he  remained  but  for  a  few  days,  when  he  started  in  com- 
pany with  Mrs.  Dow  on  another  visit  to  the  North.  We 
again  extract  from  Peggy's  journal,  as  his  is  still  silent 
as  to  his  travels.  "  • 

"  We  reached  the  outskirts  of  the  settlements  of 
Natchez  on  the  third  day  after  we  left  the  city.  It  was 
something  late  in  the  day  before  we  left  the  last  house 
inhabited  by  white  people  and  entered  the  vast  wilder- 
ness. This  was  a  new  scene  to  me,  such  as  I  had  nev- 
er met  with  before.  My  heart  trembled  at  the  thought 
of  sleeping  out  in  this  desert  place,  with  no  company  but 
my  husband.  However,  a  little  before  sunset,  we  came 
to  a  place  where  we  could  get  water  and  plenty  of  cane 
for  odV  horses.  There  we  stopped  for  the  night,  built  a 
fire,  and  cut  a  quantity  of  cane  for  our  horses  ;  we  then 
prepared  our  supper,  which  consisted  of  coffee  and  hard 
buiscuit,  which  we  had  brought  from  the  settlement. — 
We  had  no  tent  to  screen  us  from  the  inclement  weath- 
er, but  we  had  blankets  on  which  to  sleep.  We  lay 
down,  after  having  prepared  a  quantity  of  wood  for  the 
night.  But  it  was  a  gloomy  night  to  me,  it  being  the 
first  time  I  had  ever  been  in  such  circumstances.  To 
look  up  and  see  the  widely  extended  concave  of  heaven, 
bespangled  with  stars,  was  truly  majestic  ;  yet  to  con- 
sider we  were  in  a  lonely  desert,  uninhabited  except  by 


LORF.NZO  DOW'S  LIFE  Ai\D  TRaVELs'.  121 

wild  beasts  and  savages,  made  me  feel  very  much  alarm- 
ed, and  I  slept  but  little,  while  Lorenzo  was  quite  happy 
and  composed.  He  afterwards  observed,  he  had  never 
been  so  well  pleased  in  travelling  through  this  wild  un- 
frequented place  before,  and  this  was  the  tenth  time  he 
had  passed  through  it,  in  the  space  of  nine  or  ten  years. 
"  We  met  with  no  molestation  through  the  night,  and 
as  soon  as  day  dawned,  we  started  and  travelled  until 
late  breakfast  time  ;  when  we  stopped,  struck  up  a  fire, 
prepared  and  took  some  refreshment,  fed  our  horses,  and 
then  continued  our  journey. 

"  We  travelled  nearly  forty  miles  that  day.  It  was 
quite  dark  before  we  got  to  Pearl  river,  which  we  had 
to  cross  in  a  ferry  boat ;  we  stayed  at  a  house,  such  as 
it  was,  that  belonged  to  a  'half  breed.'  1  was  very  much 
fatigued,  but  rested  tolerably  well. 

*'  In  the  morning  we  started  by  ourselves  soon  after 
we  had  got  some  refreshment,  and  proceeded  onwards 
until  towards  evening,  when  v/e  met  a  company  of  In 
dians,  who  were  preparing  their  camp  for  the  night. — • 
This  struck  me  with  considerable  dread,  and  to  add  tG 
my  fears,  we  had  to  cross  a  dreadful  slough  called  by 
travellers  '  hell  hole.''  It  consisted  of  thin  mud,  so  that 
horses  when  stripped  of  saddle  and  harness  could  swim 
through,  and  then  it  was  necessary  some  one  should  be 
on  the  other  side  to  prevent  their  running  away.  We 
had  none  to  assist  us,  and  could  not  tell  what  we  should 
do  ;  but  it  happened  that  the  Indians  had  made  a  tem- 
porary bridge  of  poles  and  canes,  which  served  us  to 
cross  upon  also. 

"  We  were  then  under  the  necessity  of  preparing  for 
the  night,  as  it  \yas  almost  sunset ;  we  were  not  more 
than  half  a  mile  from  the  Indians'  camp,  which  was  quite 
alarming  to  me  ;  but  there  was  no  alternative,  there  we 


122         THE  ECCENTRIC  FKEACHER:  OR 

must  staj'.  According-ly  Lorenzo  made  a  good  fire,  pro- 
vided plenty  of  cane  for  the  horses,  and  made  ready  our 
little  repast.  By  this  time  it  was  dark.  We  then  lay 
down  to  rest;  but  my  mind  was  too  much  occupied  by 
gloomy  reflections  to  sleep,  wjiile  I  could  hear  the  In- 
dian dogs  barking  and  the  horse  bells  jingling. 

"Still,  it  was  a  beautiful  night.  The  moon  shone 
through  the  trees  with  great  splendor,  and  the  stars 
twinkled  around.  Had  my  mind  been  in  a  right  frame, 
it  would  have  been  a  beautiful  prospect  to  ine ;  but  I 
was  so  much  afraid,  it  deprived  me  of  any  satisfaction, 
while  Lorenzo  would  have  slept  soundly,  if  I  had  not 
been  so  fearful  and  frequently  disturbed  him.  At  day- 
light we  started  and  passed  another  long  and  tedious 
day  in  the  wilderness.  We  expected  to  reach  a  man's 
house,  who  had  an  Indian  family  on  the  Chickasaw  riv- 
er. Coming  to  a  creek,  Lorenzo  took  it  to  be  ihe  river. 
I  felt  very  much  rejoiced,  as  I  hoped  to  find  a  house  to 
sleep  in :  but  we  were  disappointed,  for  when  we  had 
crossed  the  creek  we  found  an  Indian  village.  On  in- 
quiring how  far  it  was  to  the  man's  house,  tiiey  told  us 
.  by  signs  it  was  ten  miles,  and  it  was  now  almost  sunset. 

"  We  started  on  again  and  went  perhaps  half  a  mile, 
when  the  path  became  divided  into  so  many  little  divi- 
sions we  could  not  tell  which  to  take.  Lorenzo  there- 
fore went  back  to  an  Indian  house  and  requested  an  old 
Indian  to  pilot  us.  He  hesitated  at  first,  but  after  un- 
derstanding he  should  be  well  paid,  he  took  Iiis  blanket 
and  wrapping  it  about  his  head,  started  on  before  us. — 
We  were  not  more  than  three  miles  from  the  Indian's 
house  before  it  was  quite  dark.  I  was  very  much  afraid 
of  our  pilot,  and  strove  to  lift  ray  heart  to  God  for  pro- 
tection, and  felt  in  some  degree  supported. 

"  Our  way  lay  through  a  large  swamp  intermixed  with 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  123 

cane,  and  was  very  gloomy ;  but  our  pilot  was  almost 
equal  to  a  wolf  in  finding  his  way  through  this  almost 
unfrequented  spot  of  earth.  He  wound  about  and  kept 
the  path  v.here  it  seemed  almost  impossible.  Having 
journeyed  until  ten  or  eleven  o'clock,  we  came  to  the 
river;  but  how  to  cross  it  was  the  next  difficulty.  We 
must  cross  a  ferry  ;  but  the  boat  was  on  the  other  side. 
Lorenzo  requested  the  old  Indian  to  go  over  and  fetch 
it,  but  he  would  not  move  one  step  until  he  had  promised 
him  more  money.  This  was  the  second  or  third  time  he 
had  raised  his  wages  since  we  started.  At  last,  he  went 
up  the  river  and  found  some' v/ay  to  get  across:  in  a 
short  time  he  had  the  boat  over ;  and  entering  it  with 
our  horses,  the  old  man  set  us  over.  We  cafue  to  the 
house,  the  family  were  gone'to  bed,  but  the  woman  got 
up,  and  although  she  was  half  Indian,  she  treated  me 
with  more  attention  than  many  would  have  done,  wiio 
are  educated  among  the  more  refined  inhabitants  of  the 
earth  I 

'•  I  felt  quite  comfortable  and  slept  sweetly  through 
the  rem.aining  part  of  the  night.  In  the  morning  we 
started  again,  being  then  thirty  miles  from  the  Tombig- 
bee  settlements.  We  passed  through  some  delightful 
country  that  day,  and  about  two  or  three  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  reached  the  first  house  inha.bited  by  white 
people." 

Our  travellers  continued  their  tedious  progress,  noth- 
ing occurring  worthy  of  note,  until  they  approached  the 
confines  of  Georgia;  where  writes  Mrs.  Dow, 

"I  got  a  fall  from  my  horse  and  hurt  myself  consider- 
ably, and  I  was  as  much  fatigued  and  worn  out  by  trav- 
elling, as  ever  I  was  in  my  life.  I  thought  sometimes  I 
r.ever  should  stand  it  to  get  through  the  wilderness. — 


1 


124  THE  ECCENTRIC  preacher:    OR 

But  Providence  gave  me  strength  of  body  beyond  what 
I  could  have  expected." 

Some  lime  in  December  (1812)  they  reached  Mil- 
ledgeville,  in  Georgia,  and  stayed  a  week  to  recruit 
their  exliausted  strength.  Hence  he  pushed  on  to  South 
Carolina,  preaching  constantly  on  the  way.  About  the 
eeventcenth  of  March  (1813)  they  reached  Lynchburg, 
(Va.)  where,  it  seems,  Mr.  Dow  had  contemplated  pur- 
chasing a  small  tenement  and  leaving  his  wife,  while  he 
proceeded  to  the  North.  But  finding  his  means  too  slen- 
der for  this  purpose,  he  accepted  the  invitation  of  a  Mr. 
Walker,  a  gentleman  residing  in  Buckingham,  (Va.) 
about  twenty  miles  from  Lynchburg,  who  offered  Peggy 
a  home  in  his  family.     ' 

This  removal  to  Mr.  Walker's  was  in  the  month  of 
June.  They  had  been  confined  in  Lynchburg  three 
months  by  a  very  severe  sickness,  which  threatened  to 
destroy  the  life  of  Mrs.  Dow.  Scarcely  had  they  reach- 
ed Mr.  Walker's  when  she  was  taken  sick  again,  and 
continued  so  for  several  weeks  more.  Recovering  suf- 
ficiently to  be  moved,  she  was  carried  in  blankets  to 
another  friend's,  who  offered  them  an  asylum,  and  as 
soon  as  she  could  walk  her  room,  Lorenzo  prepared  for 
his  Northern  tour,  so  long  deferred  on  account  of  her 
sickness.  Peggy  was  to  remain  at  Mr.  Duval's  through 
the  winter. 

Lorenzo  had  not,  however,  been  idle  during  this  long 
period  of  afi^iction.  His  journal  exhibits  his  labors  in 
the  counties  adjacent  to  the  residence  of  his  wife.  The 
following  extracts  are  the  most  interesting  we  find. 

"Sweet  Springs,  (Va.)  I  spoke  to  a  large  and  atten- 
tive audience,  though  the  Devil  reigned  in  these  parts. 
Lawyer  Baker  collared  me  and  threatened  to  break  my 
neck  for  preaching ;  because,  he  said,  I  insulted  a  lady 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  125 

ton  years  before,  by  saying  'Hell  is  moving  from  be- 
neath to  meet  her  at  her  coming;'  and  he  did  it  to  re- 
venge her  cause.  His  assertion  was  false.  The  ladies 
however  took  up  my  cause,  and  promised  me  protection. 
Hence,  his  gambling  comrades  became  ashamed,  and  he 
had  to  hold  his  peate  and  let  me  alone. 

"  At  the  Camp  Meeting,  near  Salem,  I  had  to  apolo- 
gize for  my  'lappel  coat,'  v.hich  I  was  reprobated  for 
wearing.  The  case  was  this.  Eighteen  months  before, 
I  was  in  distress  for  a  coat,  the  winter  coming  on,  and  I 
had  not  money  to  buy  one.  But  a  man  owed  me  twenty 
dollars,  which  he  could  not  pay  in  ready  money.  Hence, 
as  I  was  about  to  leave  those  parts,  I  must  lose  it  or  ac- 
cept an  order  on  a  shop  where  garments  were  ready 
made,  being  brought  over  from  England.  Therefore 
from  my  necessity  and  the  nature  of  the  case  originated 
the  contested  coat;  the  most  valuable  I  ever  wore  in  my 
life.  But  I  soon  gave  it  away,  rather  than  hurt  weak 
minds.  I  got  a  sailor's  blanket  coat  in  which  to  prose 
<:ute  my  jonrney." 

When  Mr.  Dow  left  his  "Peggy"  in  December  (1813) 
he  visited  the  District  of  Columbia,  and  then  started  for 
Connecticut  as  far  as  the  residence  of  his  father.  He 
preached,  as  usual,  on  this  route,  and  returned  to  Vir- 
ginia in  the  following  May  and  prepared  to  carry  his 
wife  to  the  North. 

Hereafter,  his  journal  ceases  to  convey  a  connected 
detail  of  his  proceedings.  Nor  does  it  contain  much 
matter  of  interest  or  importance.  He  was  evidently  now 
deeply  engaged  in  the  publication  and  sale  of  his  books, 
and  in  other  worldly  speculations.  Little  is,  therefore, 
said  of  his  spiritual  contests  and  successes.'  His  trials 
arise  from  pecuniary  sources  rather  than  from  the  ene- 
my of  good— the  roaring  lion  who  pants  for  the  destruc- 


126  THE  ECCENTRIC  PREACHER:     OR 

tion  of  tlie  Church.  We  will,  however,  give  such  ex- 
cerpts as  will  serve  to  mark  his  routes,  or  please  or  profit 
our  readers,  beginning  with  his  departure  for  the  North 
with  his  wife,  May  (1814,) 

"  From  Brunswick  we  took  our  departure  to  Peters- 
burg, Richmond,  Alexandria,  Washington,  and  on  to 
Baltimore.  On  the  way  I  met  Jesse  Lee,  who  hailed  me 
in  the  stage. 

"  He  has  been  Chaplain  to  Congress  longer  tlian  any 
one  individual,  since  the  true  American  Federal  gov- 
ernment was  formed.  I  spent  some  time  with  him  at 
Washington.  He  gave  up  his  appointment  for  Cosmop- 
olite in  the  '  Big  House.'  One  night  Cosmopolite,  v/hile 
sleeping  in  the  room  with  him,  dreamed  that  a  rat  came 
out  of  the  dark  and  fastened  on  his  finger,  and  began  to 
suck  his  blood ;  and  he  in  endeavoring  to  shake  it  off 
had  like  to  have  sprung  out  of  bed.  Next  day  there 
came  a  swindler  to  Cosmopolite  and"  duped  him  out  of 
thirty-eight  dollars.  This  also  taught  him  a  lesson — 
'He  that  will  be  surety  for  a  stranger  shall  smart  for  it.' 
"From  Baltimore  I  went  to  Philadelphia  and  so  to 
New  York. 

"After  our  arrival  in  New  York  a  combination  of  cir- 
cumstances conspired  together,  whereby  I  was  enabled 
to  put  my  works  to  press  through  the  assistance  of  some 
triends,  whose  friendship  I  required  ;  but  as  many  of  the 
books  were  sold  at  cost,  and  considerable  expense  at- 
tended their  transportation  and  circulation,  there  v/as 
very  little,  if  any,  neat  gain. 

"  I  frequently  attended  the  meetings  of  the  Anbury 
meeting  house  belonging  to  the  people  of  color,  and  next 
departed  to  New  Haven,  where  we  spent  a  few  days. — ^ 
Thence  to  North  Guildford  and  Middletown,  where  I 
found  a  wa2;on  goinfr  to  Hebron." 


LORENZO  DOW'S  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS.  127 

It  seems  that  Lorenzo's  declension  in  piety  was  not 
unnoticed  by  his  friends,  as  appears  from  the  following: 

"  Here  (Hebron)* I  received  a  note  from  N.  D.  of  N.  L., 
containing  the  following  queries.  1st,  Why  less  time 
in  private  devotion  than  formerly?  2nd.  Whether  the 
time  spent  in  writing  would  not  be  better  spent  in  pri- 
vate prayer?  ord.  Why  more  conversant  with  my 
friends  ?" 

His  reply  does  little  more  than  confirm  the  fact  of  his 
declension.     He  writes  thus  : 

"These  questions  reminded  me  of  several  vessels 
which  were  loaded  with  cattle,  sheep,  hogs,  geese,  &c., 
when  several  foreign  vessels  were  off  at  a  distance. — 
Those  things  caused  me  to  think  so  loud,  that  I  spoke 
out,  this  looks  like  fulfilling  the  scripture,  'If  thine  ene- 
my hunger,  feed  him.'  'Yes,' replied  a  bystander,  'the 
Connecticut  people  are  very  pious  in  that  respect.' 

"But  books  are  next  akin  to  preaching,  and  may  ben- 
efit society  when  I  am  no  more." 

The  reader  can  easily  perceive  that  this  reply  is  a 
mere  evasion  of  his  friend's  question,  and  none  but  a 
backslider  would  have  answered  such  questions  in  such 
a  manner. 

"  Getting  equipped  with  ahorse  and  wagon  I  proceed- 
ed to  Coventry,  and  found  my  aged  father,  one  sister, 
and  two  nephews  well.  I  stayed  a  few  days,  viaiied  a 
number  of  adjacent  places,  and  had  some  tender  times* 
But  my  mind  was  uneasy,  and  some  hours  of  sleep  de- 
parted fi'om  me^  when  I  reflected  upon  the  state  of  the 
country  and  the  spirit  of  the  times." 

He  next  spent  several  weeks  in  the  State  of  New- 
York,  preaching  extensively  in  the  vicinity  of  Saratoga 
and  Ballston,  then  we  find  him  successively  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, Delaware  and  Maryland,  and  in  thirty  days  re 


128  THE  ECCENTRIC  PREACHER:     OR 

turning  to  New  York  to  join  his  wife,  who  had  engaged 
to  meet  him  there.  In  this  excursion  of  thirty  days,  be 
had  travelled  five  hundred  miles  and  held  sixty  meetings ! 
He  also  made  another  tour  of  several  weeks  over  a 
large  part  of  Pennsylvania,  and  of  a  week  or  two  on  the 
Eastern  shores,  and  then  retired  to  New  York  ;  where 
he  spent  the  winter  (of  1814  and  15)  in  comparative  qui- 
etness, lodging  in  the  house  of  a  Quaker  named  Dorsey. 
During  the  summer  and  fall  of  1815  we  find  him  on 
another  long  and  tedious  journey  to  Natchez.  The  ac- 
coun',  of  this  journey  is  very  brief  and  possesses  little  if 
any  interest.  While  on  his  way  and  stopping  at  Mari- 
etta, he  writes : 

"  Monday,  IGih  October.  This  day,  I  am  thirtyeight 
years  old.  Sixteen  years  ago,  I  embarked  for  Europe. 
Thirty-eight  more,  no  doubt,  will  change  my  state. — 
Above  half  of  seventy-six  is  gone." 

He  closed  his  southern  tour  on  the  Itith  of  April,  181G, 
and  embarked  at  New  Orleans  for  New  York,  and  ar- 
rived safely  there  on  the  12th  of  May,  and  shortly  after 
joined  "Peggy"  at  his  father's  house  in  Coventry.  His 
journal  closes  with  the  following  note: 

"  October  4th,  1816.  I  have  just  returned  from  a  tour 
through  Genessee,  Vermont,  New  Hampshire  and  Con- 
necticut to  Philadelphia.  I  find  the  spirit  of  inquiry  in- 
creasing, and  heard  of  revivals  in  four  different  societies. 
Saw  three  of  my  sisters,  Avhom  I  had  not  seen  for  eight 
years.  Left  my  companion  at  my  father's  until  my  re- 
turn in  the  spring.  Hard  judged  by  man,  but  which 
must  and  will  finally  be  decided  by  the  judgment  of  God 
only." 

Thus  closes  the  journal  of  this  strange  specimen  of 
our  common  humanity.  To  trace  his  subsequent  wan- 
derings is  impossible  without  the  assistance  of  his  pri- 


LOUENZO  DOW'S  LIFE' AND  TRAVELS.  129 

vato  papers,  and  these  cannot  be  obtained,  on  any  terms, 
favorable  to  their  publication. 

It  is  known  however  that  he  continued  his  comet-like 
manner  of  life.  VVandcritifr,  like  the  comfortless  dove 
dismissed  from  the  cheerful  shelter  of  thesucred  ark,  he 
occasionally  appeared  in  every  part  of  the  United  States, 
continuing  to  excite  much  notice  and  curiosity  by  his 
darinfT,  reckless  and  odd  manner  of  speech  and  action. 
Generally  hundreds  flocked  to  hear  him,  from  the  laugh- 
ing boy  of  six  or  seven  years  old,  the  gay  youth  of  six- 
teen and  twenty,  to  the  hoary  headed.  All  were  amu- 
sed by  his  eccentricity,  though  it  is  to  be  feared  few 
profited  from  his  addresses  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life. 

From  the  evidence  contained  in  his  journal,  the  state- 
ments of  many  who  have  heard  him  in  many  places,  and 
of  those  who  lived  near  him  in  New  London,  (Conn.), 
where  he  made  his  home  in  the  later  years  of  his  life,  it 
is  pretty  certain  that  he  had  lost  that  piety  which  distin- 
guished him  in  his  early  career.  Probably  he  found  his 
eccentricity  profitable,  and  he  soon  learned  to  prefer 
profit  to  usefulness.     Alas!  poor  human  nature! 

Political  discussions,  the  Mason  and  Anti-mason  dis- 
putes, and  subsequently  the  Roman  Catholic  Church, 
■were  the  themes  that  occupied  his  attention  in  the  de- 
clining years  of  his  life.  lie  pursued  his  course  on  these 
points  with  all  his  wonted  oddity  and  vulgarity  until  he 
retained  the  confidence  of  excdedingly  few  of  the  reli- 
gious public. 

Nor  did  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  escape  her 
share  of  his  opposition.  It  has  been  seen  that  to  her  in- 
fluence he  owed  his  conversion.  She  was  tjje  spiritual 
mother  that  brought  him  out  of  the  darkness  of  sin  into 
the  marvellous  light  of  God.  He  owed  his  all,  spiritual- 
ly, to  her.     True  he  v/as  much  discouraged  in  his  early 


130  THE  ECCE-NTRIC  PREACHER:    OR 

career  by  many  of  her  prominent  members,  perhaps  in 
some  instances  with  a  too  unsparing  hand.  But  where 
is  the  wonder?  He  started  up,  young,  illiterate,  rough, 
and  odd  to  a  f;iult,  and  striking  out  his  own  course,  pur- 
sued it,  regardless  of  advice  or  entreaty.  What  v  onder 
that  a  church,  struggling  as  she  then  was  for  her  very 
existence  in  New  England  against  the  stern  opposition 
of  sneering  prelates  and  bigoted  sectaries,  what  vvoiider, 
■we  ask,  that  her  adherents  were  unwilling  to  increase 
their  load  by  encouraging  so  uncouth  a  being  as  Loren- 
zo Dow  ?  The  wonder  is,  that  on  the  whole,  more  effi- 
cient measures  were  not  adopted  against  him.  Indeed 
he  himself  was  fully  sensible  of  his  -obligations  to  the 
forbearance  of  many  in  the  church,  as  may  be  seen  from 
many  passages  in  his  journal.  His  pieiji  and  usefulness 
alone  led  them  to  his  toleration.  While  he  retained  his 
piety  he  was  sensible  of  that  obligation,  but  when  he 
grew  worldly  he  Ipst  it  and  became  the  foe  of  our  disci- 
plinary forms  and  government.  He  joined  in  the  rruly 
ridiculous  cry  of  popery,  &.C.,  against  the  M.  E.  Church, 
and  attempted  to  convince  the  people  that  they  Avere  the 
slaves  of  their  Bishops.  We  are  sorry  to  see  others 
working  on  the  same  species  of  capital,  and  laboring  like 
Vulcans  to  convince  the  Methodists  that  they  are  slaves. 
Sapient  men  !  Cannot  the  captive  feel  his  own  chains 
and  see  his  own  prison  walls  ?  Needs  he  argument  to 
prove  him  a  captive?  "Why  then  need  we  poor  Metho- 
dists to  pass  through  the  slow  process  of  syllogistic  con- 
viction to  learn  the  existence  of  our  bonds  ?  Why,  in- 
deed ?  unless  our  slavery  lie  more  in  the  brains  of  our 
opponents  than  about  our  liberties  and  persons;  which 
is  presumed  to  be  the  case.  The  truth  is,  Methodism 
spreads  too  fast  not  to  have  foes  among  jealous  secta- 
ries ;  she  is  too  devoted  to  nohness  to  escape  the  enmity 


131 

of  the  wicked,  and  too  strict  to  rules  not  to  be  hated  by 
disappointed  aspirants  after  power  and  patronage.  Mr. 
Dow  wished  the  patronage  of  the  church  without  sub- 
mitting to  its  order,  and  he  was  disappointed :  and  so 
will  all  others  be  who  are  mad  enough  to  plunge  into 
such  a  gulf  of  erroneous  expectations. 

]Mr.  Dow's  end  was  sudden.  He  was  at  Washington 
in  the  District  of  Columbia,  preparing  his  papers  for  a 
continuation  of  his  journal,  when  he  sickened  and  died. 
Of  the  manner  of  his  death  little  is  known,  but  it  is  to 
be  hoped  he  lived  to  repent  of  his  loss  of  piety,  and  ob- 
tain the  precious  faith,  he  so  evidently  enjoyed  in  the 
early  part  of  his  career.  He  was  probably  about  fifty- 
seven  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death.  His  wife 
Peggy  is  still  living  in  the  vicinity  of  New  London, 
(Conn.)  and  is  said  to  be  smart  and  active  for  her  age. 

Having  stated  the  leading  facts  in  the  life  of  this  ec- 
centric genius,  we  leaVe  the  reader  to  draw  his  own 
conclusions.  He  will  find  faults  to  condemn  and  avoid  ; 
and  zeal  and  perseverance  to  admire  and  imitate :  and 
should  this  sketch  please,  while  it  instructs  the  reader, 
the  writer  will  be  satisfied.  •• 

FINIS. 


m 


ELECTION,  UNIVERSALISM  AND  DEISM, 

OR 
THE  CHAIN  OF  THE  PREACHER  ABRIDGED. 


After  I  had  found  religion,  I  began  to  reflect  on  my 
expenence,  and  perceiving  that  I  felt  a  love  to  all, 
though  I  had  been  taught  that  God  only  loved  a  fe-^v, 
which  he  had  given  to  his  son:  I  could  not  reconcile  the 
two  ideas  together,  how  my  love  should  exceed  the  love 
of  God  ;— and  feeling  within  myself,  that  I  stood  in  dan- 
ger of  falling  into  sin,  and  consequently  into  condemna- 
tion: I  could  not  reconcile  it  with  the  common  idea, 
that  if  a  man  once  obtained  religion  he  was  always  safe, 
let  him  do  as  he  ^ould. — This  put  me  upon  examining 
the  scriptures  for  myself,  where  I  could  find  no  promise 
that  any  should  be  saved,  but  those  ivho  endured  unto  the. 
end.  On  the  other  hand  the  bible  seemed  to  correspond 
with  my  feelings,  that  there  was  danger,  being  full  of 
cautions ;  and  there  is  no  need  of  caution  where  there 
is  no  danger.  The  more  light  and  knowledge  a  person 
hath,  and  commits  a  crime,  the  worse  it  must  be  ;  be- 
cause he  sins  against  the  more  light :  therefore  any  sin 
is  greater  in  a  professor  of  religion,  than  in  a  non-pro- 
fessor, seeing  he  sins  against  the  greater  light. 

If  the  sin  is  the  greater,  of  course  the  condemnation 
and  punishment  must  be  proportioned ;  as  Christ  saith, 
"  he  that  knoweth  his  master's  will  and  doeth  it  not,  shall 


134  ELECTION,   U.XIVERSALISM,    ETC. 

be  beaten  with  many  stripes,  whereas,  he  that  knoweth 
not  his  master' :J  will,  shall  be  beaten  with  few."— There- 
fore if  the  sinner,  who  never  had  religion,  deserves  to 
be  damned  for  actual  transgression;  why  not  the  pro- 
fessor, upon  the  principles  of  impartial  justice. 

Now  it  appears  to  me  that  this  doctrine,  o/?ce  in  grace, 
Qlwmjs  in  grace,  is  inseparably  connected  with  the  doc- 
trine o^ particular  ehclion,  and  reprobation ;  and  to  deny 
the  latter,  and  to  hold  the  former,  ;o  me  appears  incon- 
sistent:— For  if  a  saint  cannot  be  punished  in  proportion 
to  liis  conduct,  then  he  is  not  accountable ;  and  if  be  be 
not  accountable,  then  not  rewardable ;  and  if  neither  re- 
■wardable  nor  punishable,  then  his  salvation  or  damna- 
tion does  not  turn  upon  his  actions,  ;7ro  nor  co?i,  but  upon 
the  free  electing  love  of  God:  Therefore,  God  wjil  liave 
mercy  upon  whom  he  will,  and  Avhom  he  will,  he  passe4.h 
by :  thus  they  appear  connected  like  two  links  in  a  chain. 
And  it  appeareth  moreover,  that  the  doctrine  of  particu- 
lar election,  leadeth  to  univei'salism  :  for  according  to  the 
above,  we  must  suppose,  that  God  decreed  all  things ; 
if  so,  God  being  \\\se,ivhaieverhe  hath  decreed,  he  must 
have  decreed  it  right ;  consequently  nothing  cometh  to 
pass  ivrong— then  there  is  no  sin,  for  it  cannot  be  sin  to 
do  right :  If  then  one  shall  be  damned  for  doing  right, 
why  not  all  ?  and  if  one  be  saved/for  doing  right,  v/hy 
not  all?  according  to  the  rule  6f  impartial  justice. — 
Again,  this  doctrine  of  election  eaith,  all  that  was  given 
from  the  Father  to  the  Son,  in  the  covenant  of  Grace, 
will  be  saved  ;  none  that  Christ  died  for  can  be  lost. — 
The  bible  saith,  Christ  gave  himself  for  JLL.—l  Tim. 
ii.  4,  6;  IJohnii.  2.  And  A  double  L  does  not  spell 
part,  nor  some,  nor  feiv,  but  it  means  all :  Well,  now  if 
all  Christ  died  for,  will  be  saved,  and  none  of  them  can 


ELECTION,    UMVERSALISM,    ETC.  ]35 

be  lost,  then  Universalisni  must  be  true  :  O^J^  and  you 
canDot  deny  it. 

And  now  it  appears  furthermore,  that  Universalism 
leads  to  Deism — for  if  all  are  saved,  none  are  lost,  and 
of  course  no  future  punishment: — Therefore  the  threat- 
eningsin  the  bible  must  be  fal^e,  like  a  sham  scarecrow 
hung  up  in  the  fields  to  represent  what  is  not  real.  And 
if  the  threatnings  be  false,  the  promises  are  equally  so; 
for  while  the  promises  are  given  in  one  scale  to  encour-. 
age  virtue,  the  threatnings  are  put  in  the  opposite  one, 
to  discourage  vice :  To  deny  the  one,  disallows  of  the 
other,  and  of  course  breaks  the  chain  of  the  bible,  and 
thereby  destroys  its  authority ;  consequently,  ye  cannot 
suppose  with  propriety,  that  it  came  from  God,  by  Di- 
vine direction;  but  rather,  that  it  was  hatched  up  by 
some  cunning  politicians,  to  answer  their  political  de- 
signs, to  keep  the  people  in  order — and  that  it  has  been 
kept  on  the  carpet  ever  since,  by  the  black  and  blue 
coats  to  get  a  fat  living  out  of  the  people.— "Away  with 
the  bible,"  says  the  Deist,  "I  will  be  imposed  upon  by 
that  no  more,  but  I  v/ill  go  upon  reason  :  for  who  ever 
came  back  from  the  other  world,  to  bring  us  news  from 
that  country  about  heaven  or  hell,  or  exhibited  a  map 
thereof.^" 

Now  if  I  denied  the  bible,  I  should  of  course  deny 
miracles  and  inspiration;  for  if  I  admit  of  them,  I  must 
in  reason  admit  of  the  propriety  of  the  bible. 

But  no  one  who  denies  inspiration  and  miracles,  can 
prove  the  existence  of  a  God.  There  are  but  six  ways 
to  receive  ideas,  which  are  by  inspiration,  or  one  of  the 
Jive  senses.  Deny  inspiration,  there  are  but  the  five  ways  ; 
and  matter  of  fact  demonstrates,  that  a  man  by  these 
outward  sensitive  organs,  can  neither  hear,  see,  smell, 
taste  nor  feel  God:  How  then  can  we  know  him  but  by 


136  ELECTION,    UMVERSALISM,    ETC. 

a  revelation  in  the  inward  sense  ?  Why,  saith  the  De- 
ist, the  works  of  nature  proclaim  aloud  in  both  my  ears, 
"there  is  a  God  ;"  but  I  deny  it  according  to  your  scale 
of  reasoning,  for  you  deny  miracles ;  and  yet  you  say 
what  has  been  once  may  be  again :  now  if  there  was  a 
miracle  once,  there  may  be  one  again:  if  so,  then  there 
may  be  such  a  thing  as  revealed  religion,  for  that  is  but 
miraculous :  But  if  there  cannot  be  a  miracle  again,  that 
is  an  argument  there  never  was  one,  and  of  course  de- 
nies the  works  of  creation ;  if  there  was  no  creation, 
then  there  is  no  Creator:  for  it  must  have  been  a  mira- 
cle, to  have  spoken  the  world  into  existence,  and  to  have 
formed  intelligent  beings. — Therefore,  if  there  never 
was  a  miracle,  then  there  never  was  such  a  thing  as 
creation :  Consequently,  the  works  of  nature  do  not  speak 
forth  a  Divine  Being,  for  his  hand  never  formed  them ; 
but  they  argue,  that  matter  is  eternal,  and  that  all  things 
come  by  nature— for  it  is  evident,  that  if  nought  had 
been  once,  nought  had  been  now ;  for  Tiof/t/n^g*  cannot  put 
forth  the  act  of  power  and  beget  something ;  yet  it  is 
self-evident,  that  something  does  exist ;  therefore,  some- 
thing must  have  existed  eternally.  Then  saith  reason, 
if  all  things  come  by  nature,  then  nature  is  eternal ;  and 
Avhen  forming  from  its  primitive  chaos,  into  its  present 
position  by  congelation,  brought  forth  mankind,  beasts, 
and  vegetables  spontaneously ;  something  like  the  mush- 
room growing  up  without  seed,  or  the  moss  growing  on 
the  tree;  and  are  kept  on  the  stage  by  transmigration, 
like  the  caterpillar,  transmigrating  or  turning  into  a 
beautiful  butterfly  ;  or  the  muck-worm  into  a  horn-bug. 
Thus  nature  assumes  one  form  or  shape  for  a  while,  then 
laying  that  aside,  takes  up  another. 

Thus  I  shall  be  an  Atheist  instead  of  a  Deist,  but  I 
cannot  be  one  or  the  other  according  to  reason,  for  if 


ELECTION,    UNIVERSALISM,    ETC.  137 

there  be  no  God,  nature  depends  on  chance,  and  this 
earth  would  be  like  a  well  stringed  instrument,  without 
a  skilful  hand  to  play  upon  it;  or  a  well  rigged  vessel, 
without  mariners  to  steer  her;  for  every  thing  that  hath 
not  a  regulator,  is  liable  to  go  to  ruin :  and  if  all  things 
depend  on  chance,  then  by  chance  there  may  be  a  God 
and  a  Devil,  a  heaven  and  hell,  saints  and  sinners ;  and 
by  chance  the  saints  may  get  to  heaven,  and  by  chance 
the  sinners  may  go  to  hell. — It  is  evident  in  reason,  that 
as  a  stream  cannot  rise  higher  than  its  fountain,  so  con- 
fusion can  never  produce  order;  for  the  effect  cannot  be 
more  noble  than  the  cause ;  consequently,  if  confusion 
had  been  once,  it  must  have  remained  ;  but  as  the  stars 
keep  their  courses  without  infringing  on  each  other  in 
their  different  revolutions,  so  that  the  astronom.er  can 
calculate  his  almanacs  years  before  hand,  it  is  evident 
there  is  such  a  thing  as  order ;  and  to  suppose  this  order 
to  have  been  eternal  %vould  be  arguing,  that  the  earth 
has  stood  forever  as  we  novi^  behold  it ;  and  to  suppose 
that  the  earth  hath  forever  had  its  present  form,  is  to 
suppose  that  there  has  been  an  eternal  succession  of  men, 
beasts  and  vegetables,  and  that  to  an  injimie  number ; 
(for  if  the  number  be  not  infinite,  how  could  the  succes- 
sion have  been  eternal  ?)  and  yet  to  talk  about  an  infi- 
nite number,  is  a  contradiction  in  terms,  for  there  is  no 
number  but  what  may  be  made  larger,  by  the  addition 
of  units:  but  that  which  is  infinite  cannot  be  enlarged. 
Again,  if  there  has  been  eternal  succession  of  men  and 
beasts ;  by  the  same  rule  there  has  been  an  eternal  suc- 
cession of  days  and  nights,  and  years  likewise^    This 
must  be  allowed  (that  infinite  numbers  are  equal,  for  if 
one  number  be  smaller  than  the  other,  how  can  it  be 
said  to  be  infinite  ?).     Well,  if  infinhe  numbers  be  equal, 
and  if  there  hath  been  an  eternal  succession  of  years 
9 


138 


ELECTION?,    UMVERSALISM,  ETC. 


and  days  and  nights,  we  must  suppose  that  their  infinite 
numbers  are  equal.  And  yet  to  allow  there  hath  been 
as  many  years  as  there  hath  been  days  and  nights,  is  in- 
consistent, seeing  that  it  takes  three  hundred  and  sixty- 
five  to  compose  one  year;  and  if  the  number  of  years 
be  less  than  the  number  of  days  and  nights,  the  number 
cannot  be  admitted  to  be  infinite :  therefore  it  must  be, 
there  was  a  time  when  years  began  :  If  so,  we  must  ad- 
mit the  idea,  that  there  is  something  superior  to  nature 
that  formed  it,  and  thus  of  course  an  Almighty  regulator, 
that  with  wisdom  must  have  constructed  and  preserved 
this  system  ;  and  this  power  and  regulator  must  be  self- 
dependent,  for  no  power  could  exceed  it  for  to  be  de- 
pendent on,  and  of  course  self- existent,  of  course  eter- 
nal, according  to  the  foregoing;  and  this  eternal,  self- 
existent,  all-wise  Regulator  is  what  we  term  GOD,  and 
what  the  Indians  term,  the  GREAT  MAN  ABOVE. 
Various  are  the  ideas  formed  concerning  this  GOD ; 
Some  acknowledge  one  Supreme  Being,  but  disallow  of 
what  is  called  the  Trinifij,  saying,  how  can  three  be 
one  ?  Answer,  as  rain,  snow,  and  hail,  when  reduced 
to  their  origin  are  one  (water),  and  as  light,  heat,  and 
color  are  seen  in  one  element  (fire),  and  as  the  Atlantic, 
Pacific,  and  Indian  oceans  compose  but  one;  so,  if  in 
natural  things,  three  can  make  one,  why  may  we  not 
admit  the  idea  with  reason,  that  three  can  be  one  in 
things  supernatural  and  divine,  kc.  What  is  meant  by 
God  the  Father,  is,  that  Eternal  Being  that  is  every 
where  present. — What  is  meant  by  Christ  the  Son,  the 
manhood  of  Christ,  being  brought  forth  by  the  omnipo- 
tent power  of  God,  as  the  evangelists  relate;  and  that 
manhood  being  filled  with  the  divine  nature,  of  course 
he  would  be  God  as  well  as  man,  and  man  as  well  as 
God — two  distinct  natures  in  one  person ;  and  it  is  no 


ELECTION,    UNIVERSALISM,  ETC.  139 

more  inconsistent  witli  reason,  to  acknowledge  that  he 
came  as  above,  than  to  acknowledge  a  miracle  for  the 
first  man's  origin ;  which  idea  in  reason  we  must  admit, 
for  there  cannot  be  an  effect  without  a  cause. — What  is 
meant  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  is  the  Spirit  of  God  proceed- 
ing from  the  Father,  through  the  mediation  of  the  man 
Christ  Jesus,  down  to  the  sons  of  men ;  the  office  of 
which  Spirit  is  to  instruct  mankind,  and  purify  ahd  pre- 
pare them  for  the  enjoyment  of  God  in  glory. 

If  I  deny  there  was  such  a  person  as  Christ  on  this- 
earth  eighteen  hundred  years  ago,  I  should  deny  three 
things  : — 1st  our  dates. — '2ud.  all  sacred,  and  3d",  the 
greatest  part  of  profane  history,  which  historians  in  gen- 
eral would  not  be  willing  to  give  up.  If  I  allow  tliere 
was  such  a  person  as  Christ,  I  must  acknowledge  his 
miracles  too ;  for  the  same  histories,  sacred  and  profane, 
which  mention  his  person,  relate  his  miracles;  and  to 
deny  his  miracles,  would  be  giving  the  histories  the  lie, 
and  of  course  destroy  their  authority.  If  I  allow  his 
miracles  I  must  allow  his  sacred  character  also  ;  for  it 
is  inconsistent  with  reason  to  believe  that  God  would 
aid  and  assist  a  liar,  or  an  impostor,  to  do  the  mighty 
deeds  which  we  are  informed  Christ  did. 

If  there  be  no  such  thing  as  inspiration,  how  could 
the  prophets  foretel  future  events,  out  of  the  common 
course  of  nature  ?  Some  people  say,  the  prophecies 
were  written  in  prophetic  language,  after  the  things  took 
place,  but  that  is  unreasonable  to  suppose,  for  if  they 
were,  they  were  wrote  as  late  down  as  what  the  New- 
Testament  dates  back,  and  if  so,  then  both  Testaments 
came  on  the  carpet  about  one  time.  How  could  you  im- 
pose the  one  Testament  on  the  learned  people,  without 
the  other;  seeing  their  close  connexion?  But  as  the 
Jews  acknowledge  the  Old  Testament,  and  disallow  the 


140  ELECTION,    UNrVERSALISM,  ETC. 

New:  I  therefrom  argue,  that  the  Old  Testament  was 
■written  some  time  previous  to  the  New,  of  course  pre- 
vious to  the  things  being-  transacted,  which  were  pre- 
dicted. It  must,  therefore,  have  been  by  divine  inspira- 
tion. But  says  one,  the  word  revelation,  when  applied 
to  religion,  means  something  immediately  communicated 
from  God  to  man ; — that  man  tells  a  second,  the  second 
a  third,  &c.  &c.  it  is  revelation  to  the  first  only,  to  the 
re^t  it  is  mere  hearsay. 

And  if  the  bible  was  revealed  once,  it  was  not  revealed 
to  me  ;  to  me,  therefore,  it  is  hearsay.  Answer — Allow- 
ing the  above,  yet  if  a  man  tells  me  it  is  revealed  to  him 
that  my  father  is  dead,  &c.  and  the  same  Spirit  which 
revealed  it  to  him,  accompanies  his  words  with  energy 
to  my  heart,  then  it  is  revelation  to  me  as  well  as  to  him, 
and  not  bare  hearsay.  Consequently,  if  the  same  Spirit 
which  dictated  the  writing  of  the  bible,  attends  the  same 
with  energy,  then  it  is  not  hearsay,  but  revelation ;  be- 
eause  we  have  a  divine  conviction  of  the  truths  therein 
contained.  And  the  sincere  of  different  persuasions, 
find  something  in  the  bible  to  attract  their  attention, 
above  any  other  book  :  and  even  the  Deists,  when  con- 
science begins  to  lash  them,  find  something  in  the  bible 
to  attract  their  minds,  of  the  truth  of  which,  the  conduct 
of  a  number  to  be  found  on  this  continent  might  be  ad- 
duced. 

Neither  can  I  believe  all  will  be  saved:  for  in  Mark 
iii.  29,  we  are  informed  of  a  certain  character,  which 
hath  never  forgiveness,  but  is  in  danger  of  eternal 
DAMNATION ;  which  they  could  not  be  in  danger  of,  if 
there  be  no  such  thing;  and  in  Luke  xvi.  we  read  (riot 
a  parable,  but  a  positive  matter  of  fact,  related  by  Christ 
himself,  who  knew  what  was  transacted  in  eternity,  aa 
■well  as  in  time)  concerning  a  rich  man,  who  died  and 


ELECTION,    UNIVERSALISM,  ETC.  HI 

went  to  hell ;  and  there  was  a  separation  between  him 
and  ihe  good  place ;  and  if  one  be  lost,  Universalism  is 
not  true.  We  feel  in  our  breast,  that  we  are  accounta- 
ble to  God,  and  if  so,  then  rewardable  or  punishable,  ac- 
coi-ding  to  our  behavior  and  capacity  ;  and  of  course  a 
day  of  accounts  must  take  place,  v/hen  the  rewards,  or 
punishments  are  given.  Some  say  we  have  all  our  pun- 
ishment here.  In  reason  I  deny  it ;  for  the  benefit  of 
religion  is  to  escape  punishment ;  and  if  so,  none  have 
punishment,  but  the  vicious ;  but  as  many  of  the  virtuous 
have  suflered  the  most  cruel,  tormenting,  lingering 
deaths,  as  may  be  said,  for  -years,  in  matters  of  tender 
conscience ;  while  others  have  lived  on  flowery  beds  of 
ease,  and  thus  die ;  from  this  I  argue,  that  the  punish- 
ment is  to  come  hereafter. 

If  all  go  to  heaven  as  soon  as  they  die,  it  being  looked 
upon  as  a  piece  of  humanity,  to  relieve  the  distressed, 
would  it  not  be  right  for  me  to  end  all  the  sorrows  of 
those  I  can,  who  are  in  trouble? — And  does  not  this 
open  a  door  to  argue,  that  murder  is  humanity,  and 
tliereby  send  them  to  heaven  ?  But,  says  one,  I  will 
acknowledge  future  punishment,  but  it  is  not  so  long, 
nor  so  bad  as  it  is  represented  by  some ;  for  we  read  of 
the  resurrection,  v/hen  all  mortal  bodies  shall  be  raised, 
of  course  become  immortal,  and  spiritual ;  and  corporeal 
fire  and  brimstone  cannot  operate  on  spiritual  body,  and 
of  course  the  punishment  is  but  the  horror  of  a  guilty 
conscience.  And  the  word  forever^  frequently  in  the 
scripture,  being  of  a  limited  nature,  it  may  be  inferred 
the  punishment  is  not  eterna^l.  Answer:  Allowing  that 
the  punishment  is  only  the  horror  of  a  guilty  conscience  ; 
(B'hich  will  bear  dispute)  yet  I  think,  that  horror  to  the 
mind  will  be  found  equal  to  fire  and  brimstone  to  the 
material  body ;  for  frequently  I  have  been  called  to  visijt 


142  ELECTIOiN,    U.MVERSALISM,  ETC. 

people  on  sick  beds,  who  have  told  me  that  their  pain  of 
body  was  great,  but  their  pain  of  mind  so  far  exceeded 
it,  as  to  cause  them  to  forget  their  pain  of  body  for  hours 
tog-ether,  unless  some  person  spoke  particularly  to  them 
concerning  it.  Again,  you  know  what  horror  you  have 
felt  for  a  short  space,  for  one  crime.  Now,  supposing 
all  the  sins  that  ever  you  committed,  in  thought,  word, 
or  deed,  in  public,  and  in  private,  were  set  in  array  be- 
fore you,  so  that  you  could  view  all  of  them,  at  one 
glance.  And  at  the  same  time,  that  conscience  were  to 
have  its  full  latitude,  to  give  you  the  lash ;  would  not 
the  horror  whicli  here  causeth  people  to  forget  their 
temporal  pain,  while  there  is  hope,  be  worse  than  fire  to 
the  body,  when  hope  is  forever  fled  ? — for  when  hope  is 
gone,  there  is  no  support. 

And  the  idea  that  the  punishment  is  not  eternal,  be- 
cause the  word  forever^  sometimes  in  scripture  is  of  a 
limited  nature,  I  think  will  not  do ;  because  the  duration 
of  certain  words,  are  bounded  by  the  duration  of  the 
things  unto  which  they  allude. — For  instance,  "  The  ser- 
vant shall  serve  his  master ybrerer,"  in  Moses's  law. — 
The  word  forever,  was  bounded  by  the  life  of  the  ser- 
vant. And  where  it  relates  to  mortality,  it  is  bounded 
by  mortality  ;  of  course  where  it  relates  to  immortality, 
it  is  bounded  by  immortality ;  and  when  it  1-elates  to 
God,  it  is  bounded  by  the  eternity  of  God,— and  as  we 
are  informed  in  several  pans  of  scripture,  after  that 
mortality  is  done  away,  that  the  wicked  shall  be  banish- 
ed forever  from  the  presence  of  God.  The  worAfortver 
and  the  word  eternal  must  be  synonymous,  having  one 
and  the  same  meaning,  as  endless ;  being  bounded  by 
the  eternity  of  God,  and  endless  duration  of  the  immor- 
tal soul,  &c.  Matt.  XXV.  41,  4G.  2  Thess.  1.  9.  Rev. 
xix.  3.     Judges  7. 


ELECTION,    UiNIVERSALISM,  ETC.  143 

And  observing  the  doctrine  of  particular  election  and 
leprobation  to  tend  to  presumption,  or  despair,  and  those 
who  preached  it  up,  to  make  the  bible  clash  and  contra- 
dict itself,  by  preaching-  something  like  this  : 

"  You  can  and  you  can't — You  shall  and  you  shanH — 
You  will  and  you  wonH — And  you  will  he  damned  if  you 
do — And  you  ivill  he  damned  if  you  dojiH" 

Thus  contradicting  themselves,  that  people  must  do, 
and  yet  tliey  cannot  do,  and  God  must  do  all,  and  at  the 
eame  time  invite  them  to  come  to  Christ 

These  inconsistencies  caused  me  to  reflect  upon  my 
past  experience,  and  conclude  that  the  true  tenor  of  the 
bible  did  not  clash,  of  course  that  a  connect  chain  should 
be  carried  on  through  that  book,  and  the  medium  struck 
betweea  the  dark  passages,  which  literally  contradict, 
and  reconcile  them  together  by  explaining  scripture  by 
scripture;  and  by  striving  so  to  do, I  imbibed  what  here 
follows:  1st,  That  election  is  a  bible  doctrine,  but  not 
an  elect  number,  for  I  cannot  find  that  in  the  bible,  but 
an  elect  character,  viz.  "Him  that  becomes  a  tnie  peni- 
tent, willing  to  be  made  holy  and  saved  by  free  grace, 
merited  only  by  CHRIST."  And  on  the  other  hand, 
instead  of  a  reprobate  number,  it  is  a  reprobate  charac- 
ter; namely,  "him  that  obstinately  and  finally  continues 
in  unbelief,  that  shall  be  cast  off,"  &c. — Thus  any  one 
may  discover,  that  it  is  an  election  and  reprobation  of 
characters,  instead  of  numbers,  (J^/^  and  you  cannot  deny 
it.  But  the  following  scriptures  demonstrate  undenia- 
bly, that  God  instead  of  reprobating  any,  is  willing  to  re- 
ceive all.  (2  Pet.  iii.  9.  Ezek.  xxxiii.  11.  1  Tim.  ii.3, 
4.  2  Cor.  v.  19.)  Secondly,  that  Christ  instead  of  dy- 
ing only  for  a  part,  the  prophets,  angels,  Christ  and  the 
apostles  positively  affirm,  that  salvation  by  his  merits  is 
possible  for  all    (Gen.  xxiiL  14.    Isaiah  liii.  6.    Luke 


144  ELECTION,    UNIVERSALISM,  ETC. 

ii.  10.     John  iii.  IG,  17.)    Thirdly,  that  the  Holy  Spirit 
doth  not  strive  with  a  part  only,  as  some  say,  a  special 
call,  but  strives  witli  every  man  according  to  the  hard- 
ness of  his  heart;  while  the  day  of  mercy  lasts.     (John 
i.  9,  and  xvi.  8,  compare  vi.  44   with  xii.  33.)     Again, 
there  is  a  gospel  for  and  an  invitation  to  all;  (J;;^  and 
you  cannot  deny  it.    (Mark  xvi.  15.     Matt.  xi.  28.) — 
Again,  there  is  a  duty,  wliich  we  owe  to  God,  according 
-to  reason,  conscience  and  scripture  ;  and  there  are  glo- 
rious  promises,  for  our  encouragement  in  the  way  of 
duty,  and  awful  threatnings  in  the  way  of  disobedience ; 
{^^  and  you  cannot  deny  it.    (Prov.  xxviii.  13.    Matt» 
V.  2  to  8 ;  vii.  24  to  28.    Isa.  i.  16  to  20.    Psa.  ix.  17.) 
And  now  to  affirm  that  a  part  were  unconditionally  elect- 
ed for  heaven,  and  can  never  be  lost,  what  need  was 
there  of  a  Saviour  ?     To  save  them  from  what  ?     An<l 
if  the  rest  have  no  possibility  of  salvation,  who  are  ben- 
efitted  by  Christ  ?     Or  what  did  he  come  for  ?     Not  to 
benefit  the  elect  or  reprobate,  but  to  accomplish  a  mere 
sham,  or  solemn  nothing.     This  reminds  me  of  a  story 
I  heard,  concerning  a  negro  who  had  just  returned  from 
meeting — his  master  said,  Well,  Jack,  how  did  you  like 
the  minister?     Why  massa,  me  scarcely  know,  for  de 
minister  say,  God  makey  beings,  calla  man ;  he  pickey 
out  here,  oney  dare,  and  givey  dem  to  Jesus  Christ,  an 
da  can't  be  lost.     He  makey  all  de  rest  reprobate,  and 
givey  dem  to  de  devil,  da  can't  be  saved.     And  de  devil 
he  go  about  like  a  roaring  lion,  seeking  to  get  away 
some  a  Christ's,  and  he  can't.     De  minister  he  go  about 
to  get  away  some  de  devil's  and  he  canH ;  me  dono  which 
de  greatest  fool,  the  preacher  or  the  devil." 

It  is  evident  that  the  devil  and  the  damned  in  hell  do 
not  believe  in  the  doctrine  of  eternal  decrees  ;  for  it  is- 
the  nature  of  sinners,  to  strive  to  justify  themselves  in 


ELECTION,    UmVERSALISM,  ETC.  145 

evil,  and  cast  the  blame  elsewhere.  This  is  an  evil 
practice,  therefore  came  from  an  evil  source,  and  conse- 
quently from  the  devil.  When  Adam  fell  and  God 
called  on  him,  he  cast  the  blame  on  the  woman :  God 
turning  to  lier,  she  cast  the  blame  on  the  serpent ;  God 
tuxned  to  him  and  he  was  speechless.  Now  if  he  had 
believed  in  the  doctrine  of  decrees,  does  it  not  appear 
evidently,  that  he  would  have  replied  ?  "  Adam  was  not 
left  to  the  freedom  of  his  own  will ;  he  was  bound  by 
the  decrees,  and  we  have  only  fulfilled  thy  decrees  and 
done  thy  will,  and  thou  oughtest  to  reward  us  for  it." — 
But  he  was  speechless,  and  knew  nothing  of  such  talk 
then,  therefore  it  must  be  something  he  has  hatched  up 
since — as  saith  the  poet : 

"There  is  a  reprobation  plan. 

Somehow  it  did  arise  ; 
By  the  predestinarian  clan 

Of  horrid  cruelties. 

The  plan  is  this  : — they  hold  a  few, 
They  are  ordain'd  for  heaven, 

They  hold  the  rest  accursed  crew. 
That  cannot  be  forgiven. 

They  do  hold,  God  hath  decreed 

Whatever  comes  to  pass; 
Some  to  be  damned,  some  to  be  freed, 

And  this  they  call  free  grace. 

This  iron  bedstead  they  do  fetch. 

To  try  our  hopes  upon  ; 
And  if  too  short,  we  must  be  stretch'd, 

Cut  otr  if  we're  too  long. 

This  is  a  bold  serpentine  scheme. 

It  suits  the  serpent  well; 
If  he  can  make  the  sinner  dream 

That  he  is  doomed  to  hell. 


146  ELECTION,    UxMVERSALISMj  ETC. 

Or  if  he  can  persuade  a  man, 

Decree  is  on  his  side; 
Then  he  will  say  without  delay. 

This  cannot  be  untied. 

He  tells  one  sinner,  he's  decreed 

Unto  eternal  bliss ; 
He  tells  another  he  can't  be  freed, 

Fur  he  is  doom'd  to  miss. 

The  first  he  bindeth  fast  in  pride, 

TJie  second  in  despair; 
If  he  can  only  keep  them  tied, 

Which  way  he  does  not  care." 

And  now  to  talk  about  God's  foreknowledge  or  de- 
creeing all  things /ro»i  all  eternity,  appears  a  nonsensi- 
cal phrase  ;  because  to  say  from  (as  the  Avord  from  im- 
plies a  place  of  starting)  all  eternity,  implies  eternity  had 
a  beginning :  and  as  some  use  an  unmeaning  expression, 
to  convey  an  idea  of  unbeginning  time  :  for  the  want  of 
language  it  is  nonsense  to  attempt  to  build  an  argument 
thereon :  For  as  it  is  argued  in  the  foregoing,  that  God 
is  eternal,  we  may  admit  with  propriety  that  he  possess- 
eth  all  the  attributes  that  are  ascribed  to  him ;  and  yet 
it  is  not  inconsistent  to  say  that  the  first  thing  that  ever 
God  made,  was  timt,  and  in  time  he  made  all  things, 
and  probably  the  angelic  creation  Avas  previous  to  men. 
Now,  many  attempt  to  make  God  the  author  of  sin:  but 
sin  is  not  a  creature  as  many  falsely  think  ;  it  is  the  abuse 
of  good.  And  to  say  that  God  who  is  good,  abuses  good, 
is  the  highest  blasphemy  that  we  could  impeach  the 
Deity  with  ;  therefore  he  cannot  be  the  author  of  it,  con- 
sequently it  must  have  come  from  another  source.  Now 
we  must  admit  the  idea  that  there  was  a  time  when  there 
was  no  creature,  but  the  Creator  only  :  and  declarative 
glory  could  never  redound  to  God ;  except  that  finite  ac- 
countable intelligencies,  were  created,  (for  what  should 


ELECTION,    U.MVERSALISM,  ETC.  147 

declare  his  glory,)  his  justice  nor  goodness  could  never 
be  shewn  forth  in  rewards  and  punishments,  except  such 
accountable  beings  were  made;  and  of  course  must  have 
remained  in  solemn  silence  :  therefore  declarative  glory 
could  never  have  redounded  to  God.  But,  that  he  might 
have  declarative  glory,  arising  from  his  attributes,  by 
intelligences,  it  appears  that  angels  were  created  ;  and 
we  must  suppose  they  were  all  happy,  holy,  and  good  at 
first ;  seeing  this  is  the  nature  of  God  (as  all  argue  from 
the  Christian  to  the  Deist).  As  likeness  doth  beget 
likeness,  and  every  cause  produces  its  own  effect;  and 
as  we  are  informed,  that  the  devil  sinneth  from  the  be- 
ginning, and  that  some  kept  not  their  first  estate,  but 
left  their  own  habitation,  and  sinned,  and  were  cast 
down  fo  HBtT,  &c.  (2  Pet.  ii.  4.)  Jude  6.  Rom.  iv.  15. 
1  John  iii.  4,  8.  And  as  we  read,  where  there  is  no  law 
there  is  no  transgression :  It  must  be  that  the  angels 
had  a  law  to  keep,  and  power  sufficient  to  keep  or  break 
the  law  ;  or  else,  how  could  they  be  accountable  ?  and 
if  they  -were  not,  they  could  not  be  rewardable,  and  if 
not,  then  not  praise  nor  blame  worthy.  Bat  says  one, 
allowing  that  God  did  made  such  pure  intelligible  ac- 
countable beings,  and  had  a  sovereign  right  to  demand 
their  obedience,  seeing  they  were  dependent :  what 
should  induce  a  hohj  being  to  sin  against  a  Holy  God, 
especially  as  there  was^no  evil  in  him  or  them,  nor  yet 
any  to  tempt  him  ?  Answer — suppose  I  were  wal'king 
along  in  meditation,  in  a  great  field ;  of  a  sudden  I  cast 
a  look  forward,  and  can  see  no  end  to  it ;  it  would  be 
natural  for  me  to  stop  and  look  back  the  way  from  whence 
I  came.  So,  in  my  opinion,  the  angels  were  looking 
into  futurity — they  could  discover  no  end  to  eternity, 
and  it  would  be  natural  for  them  to  reflect  on  time  past. 
They  could  remember  no  time  when  they  had  no  exist- 


148  ELECT30N,    UXIVERSALISM,  ETC. 

ence,  any  more  than  I  can.  This  would  open  a  door  for 
seif-temptation  to  arise  in  thought,  "  how  do  we  know 
but  we  are  eternal  with  God  ?  and  why  should  we  be 
dependent  on  him,  or  be  accountable  to  him  ?"  In  order 
to  find  out  whether  they  were  dependent  or  independent, 
the  only  method  was,  to  try  their  strength,  by  making 
head  against  the  King  of  heaven,  by  a  violation  of  his 
command. 

Now,  evil  is  the  abuse  of  good,  and  the  first  abuse  of 
good  was  the  origin  of  evil,  and  as  their  commandment 
was  good,  the  evil  consisted  in  the  abuse  of  it :  and  the 
natural  consequence  of  breaking  the  same,  would  be  to 
convert  them  into  devils — as  the  consequence  of  murder 
is  death.  From  this  we  may  see,  that  God  made  the 
devil,  but  he  made  himself  a  devil.  Now  it  appears  to 
me  impossible  for  God  to  shew  the  devils  mercy,  con- 
sistent with  the  principles  of  reason  and  justice  ;  for  I 
may  sin  against  my  equal,  and  in  the  eyes  of  the  law, 
the  crime  is  looked  upon  as  a  trifle ;  the  same  crime 
against  a  government,  would  forfeit  my  liberty,  if  not 
my  life.  Thus  the  magnitude  of  a  crime  is  not  looked 
upon,  according  to  the  dignity  of  the  offender,  but  ac- 
cording to  the  dignity  of  the  offended :  of  course,  a  finite 
being  sinning  against  an  infinite  God,  there  is  an  infinite 
demerit  in  the  transgression  ;  of  course  justice  demands 
infinite  satisfaction.  A  finite  being  can  make  finite  sat- 
isfaction only,  although  the  crime  demands  an  infinity 
of  punishment — a  finite  being  cannot  bear  an  infinity  of 
punishment  at  once  ;  therefore  the  punishment  must  be 
made  up  in  duration,  and  of  course  be  eternal,  that  it 
may  be  adequate  to  the  crime. 

But,  says  one,  why  was  not  a  mediator  provided  for 
fallen  angels,  as  well  as  for  fallen  men  .^  Answer — it 
was  impossible,  in  the  reason  and  nature  of  things ;  for 


ELECTION,     UNIVERSALISM,  ETC.  149 

when  mankind  fell  it  was  by  the  action  of  one,  and  they 
multiply.  So  the  Godhead  and  manhood  could  be  united, 
as  in  the  person  of  Christ :  but  not  so  with  the  devils, 
for  they  were  all  created  active  beings,  and  each  stood 
or  fell  for  himself,  and  of  course  was  actually  guilty,  and 
therefore  must  have  actual  punishment;  except  a  m.edi- 
ator  was  provided  ;  which  could  not  be,  for  the  devils  do 
not  multiply ;  therefore  the  Godhead  and  devilhood  could 
not  be  joined  together.  But  supposing  it  could,  yet,- 
says  Paul,  without  shedding  of  blood  there  can  be  no  re- 
mission, and  spirits  have  no  blood  to  shed :  and  upon 
this  ground  it  appears,  that  the  devils'  restoration  or  re- 
demption must  fall  through. 

The  scripture  which  sayeth,  Rom.  ix.  11,  &c.  "  The 
children  being  yet  unborn,  having  done  neither  good  or 
evil,  that  the  purpose  of  God,  according  to  election, 
might  stand,  it  Avas  said  unto  her,  the  elder  shall  serve 
the  younger;  as  it  is  written,  Jacob  have  1  loved,  and 
Esau  have  I  hated,"  &c.  Any  person  by  examining 
Gen.  XXV.  23,  and  Mai.  i.  1,  2,  may  see  that  Paul's  talk 
doth  not  mean  their  persons,  but  that  undeniably  it  must 
be  5.pplied  to  their  posterity.  And  to  apply  thein  the 
other  way,  as  though  one  was  an  elect,  the  other  a  rep- 
robate, on  purpose  to  be  damned,  without  a  possibility  of 
escape,  is  a  plot  of  the  devil,  to  blindfold  mankind  by  a 
multitude  of  words  without  knowledge  ;  for  no  such  in- 
ference can  be  drawn  from  that  passage,  that  Jacob  waa 
made  for  salvation,  and  Esau  for  damnation.  But  ob- 
serve, it  must  be  applied  to  their  posterity :  see  Gen. 
XXV.  23.  "And  the  Lord  said  to  Rebecca,  Two  nationa 
are  in  thy  womb,  and  two  manner  of  people,  &c.  shall 
be  separated  from  thy  bowels  ;  and  the  one  people  shall 
be  stronger  than  the  other  people,  and  the  elder  shall 
serve  the  younger."    Which  came  to  pass  in  the  reign 


150  ELECTION,    UMVERSAUSM,  ETC. 

of  king  David,  when  the  Edomites  were  brought  into 
subjection  to  the  Israelites,  (2  Sam.  viii.  14 — 1  Chron. 
xviii.  13)  and  that  passage,  "Jacob  have  I  loved,  and 
Esau  have  I  hated,"  was  not  spoken  before  the  children, 
were  born,  but  hundreds  of  years  after  they  were  dead, 
by  Mai.  i.  1,  2.  Now,  cannot  any  person  who  is  un- 
prejudiced, plainly  discover,  that  the  word  "Jacob"  here 
means  the  Jewish  nation,  which  God  saw  fit  to  exalt.to 
high  national  privileges  ;  because  Christ  was  to  come 
through  that  lineage,  &c. — And  as  to  "  Esau  hctve  I 
hated"  the  word  hate  in  scripture,  frequently  means  lov- 
ing in  a  less  degree,  &c.  for  instance — Christ  sayeth, 
except  a  man  hrtte  his  father,  mother,  and  his  own  life 
also,  he  cannot  be  my  disciple — the  word  fiaie,  here 
means  loving  in  a  less  degree,  as  we  are  to  love  God 
supremely  ;  and  lent  favors  in  a  less  degree,  as  belong- 
ing to  him:  so  the  passage,  "Esau  have  I  hated,"  mean- 
eth,  that  God  did  not  see  fit  to  exalt  the  Edomites,  to  so 
high  national  privileges  as  the  Jews,  yet  they  were  the 
next  highest,  for  iheir  land  was  given  to  them  for  a  pos- 
session, which  the  Jews  were  not  permitted  to  take  from 
them,  as  they  were  going  from  Egypt  to  Canaan,  (Deut. 
ii.  4,  5)  and  that  passag*^  (Heb.  xii.  17)  which  sayeth, 
that  "  Esau  was  rejected,  and  found  no  place  of  repent- 
ance, though  he  sought  it  carefully  with  tears,"  we  must 
not  therefrom  infer,  that  it  was  God  who  rejected  him, 
because  he  Avas  a  reprobate,  but  his  father  Isaac. 

From  this  loss  of  the  b-essing,  some  people  think  Esau 
was  reprobated  and  damned:  but  Paul  saith,  Heb.  xi.20, 
by  faith  Isaac  blessed  Jacob  and  Esau  concerning  things 
to  come.  Some  forget  to  read  that  Esau  was  blessed  aa 
well  as  Jacob,  though  not  in  so  great  a  degree,  and  how 
could  he  be  blessed  by  faith  if  he  were  reprobated? — 
(Gen,  xxii.  39—40),  Esau  was  blessed  with  four  things  ; 


ELECTION,   UNIVERSaLISM,  ETC,  151 

the  first  two  were  like  a  part  of  Jacob's,  viz.  the  dew  of 
heaven,  and  the  fatness  of  the  earth — thirdly,  by  his 
sword  he  was  to  live — and  fourthly,  when  he  should 
have  the  dominion,  he  was  to  break  Jacob's  {or  Jewish) 
3^oke  from  off  his  neck,  which  came  to  pass  in  the  reign 
of  Jehoram,  the  son  of  Jehoshaphat,  2  Chron.  xxi.  8  — JO. 
And  now  to  shew  the  inconsistency  of  thinking'  that 
Esau  served  Jacob  the  younger,  it  doth  appear  that  Ja- 
cob served  Esau  ;  and  moreover,  that  Jacob  had  no  reli- 
gion when  he  attempted  to  cheat  and  lie,  that  being 
contrary  to  the  spirit  of  Christianity.  But  it  appears  that 
he  got  converted  afterwards,  when  on  his  way  to  Padan- 
.  aram;  he  lay  to  rest  in  the  woods,  and  in  the  night  he 
had  a  vision,  in*  which  he  saw  a  ladder,  the  top  reaching 
to  heaven,  Sic.  Now,  as  the  ladder  had  two  sides,  it 
represents  the  Godhead  and  Manhood  of  Christ,  and  the 
rounds,  the  different  degrees  of  grace.  If  Jacob  had 
been  pious,  doubtless  he  would  have  realized  the  pres- 
ence erf*  God  being  there  to  protect  him  from  the  wild 
beasts  ;  but  his  expression,  "  the  Lord  was  in  this  place, 
and  I  knew  it  not,"  argueth  ignorance.  Secondly,  he 
adds,  it  is  no  other  than  the  house  of  God  and  gate  of 
heaven  ;  which  is  the  language  of  young  converts. — 
Thirdly,  he  made  a  vow,  if  God  would  give  him  food  to 
eat,  and  raiment  to  put  on,  and  bring  him  back  in  peace, 
that  God  should  be  his  God ;  which  certainly  implies, 
that  he  did  not  serve  God  before  as  he  did  afterwards. — 
(Gen.  xxviii.  16.) 

Observe,  First,  Jacob  served  Esau,  was  afraid  of  him, 
and  ran  from  home  twenty  years,  through  scenes  of  sor- 
row, and  had  his  wages  changed  not  less  than  ten  times. 
Secondly,  when  he  set  out  to  returr>,  his  past  conduct 
created  such  fear  in  his  breast,  that  he  dared  not  see 
Esau's  face,  until  by  messengers  he  inquired,  "  may  I 


152  ELECTION,    UNIVERSALISM,  ETC. 

come  in  peace?"  And  understanding  that  Esau  with  a 
body  of  men  was  coining  to  meet  him,  his  sleep  depart- 
ed from  him.  He  divided  his  host  in  two  bands,  and 
wrestled  all  night  in  prayer ;  and  such  fear  surely  de- 
notes guilt.  Thirdly,  he  sent  a  number  of  messengers 
with  presents,  and  a  message  to  Esau,  calling  him  lord, 
as  if  himself  was  the  servant.  Fourthly,  Esau  bowed 
not  at  all ;  but  Jacob  bowed  not  once,  nor  twice  only, 
but  seven  times  ;  and  then  cried  out,  "  I  have  seen  thy 
face,  as  though  I  had  seen  the  face  of  God."  Now  if 
Esau  was  a  reprobate,  how  could  his  face  have  been  as 
God's  ?  nay,  it  would  have  been  as  the  devil's.  But  as 
they  had  a  joyful  meeting  together,  like  two  Christian 
brethren,  that  had  been  some  time  absent ;  I  therefore 
conclude,  that  Jacob  saw  the  image  of  God  in  his  broth- 
er Esau  ;  and  in  that  sense,  Esau's  face  might  be  said  to 
be  as  the  face  of  God,  and  in  no  other.  And  as  the  gen- 
eral tenor  of  Esau's  conduct  was  not  so  bad  as  some  part 
of  Jacob's  conduct,  I  therefore  conclude,  that  Esau  died 
in  peace  ;  and  if  ever  I  can  be  so  happy  as  to  get  to  glo- 
ry, I  expect  to  meet  Esau  there  as  vreli  as  Jacob.  (Gen. 
xxxii.  and  xxxiii.  &c.) 

If  I  believed  all  things  were  decreed,  I  must  suppose 
that  Pharaoh  did  the  will  of  God  in  all  things;  seeing 
God  decreed  all  his  thoughts,  words  and  a-fttions :  and 
the  will  being  the  determining /acu%,  it  must  be,  tliat 
whatever  God  decrees,  he  ivills :  therefore  Pharaoh  did 
the  will  of  God  according  to  that  doctrine,  0^^  and  you 
cannot  deny  it.  If  the  scripture  be  true,  then  Pharaoh 
doing  the  will  of  God,  according  to  that  doctrine,  must 
be  saved,  according  to  the  intimation  of  Christ ;  that 
Avhoever  doeth  the  will  of  God  is  his  brother,  sister,  and 
mother — observe,  if  all  Pharaoh's  conduct  was  decreed, 
he  did  as  well  as  he  could,  and  Peter  ae  bad  as  he  could; 


ELECTION,   UNIVERSALISM,  ETC.  153 

according  to  that  doctrine,  then,  which  is  the  mostjjraise 
or  blame  woithy?  Again,  if  God  decreed  Pharaoh's 
conduct,  did  he  not  decree  it  right ;  and  if  so  could  it  be 
■wrong?  If  not,  there  was  no  sin,  consequently  no  pun- 
ishment ;  unless  you  say  a  man  is  punishable  for  doing 
right.  Again,  if  God  decreed  Pharaoh  should  do  as  he 
did,  why  did  he  command  him  to  act  to  the  reverse  ? — 
Does  he  decree  one  thing  and  command  another?  If  so, 
then  you  make  God's  decrees  and  commandments  clash  ^ 
for  according  to  that  doctrine,  God's  revealed  will  is  that 
•we  should  obey ;  and  his  decreed  will  is  that  we  should 
disobey.  Thus  you  make  out  that  God  has  tico  wills 
right  opposite  to  each  other,  which  makes  God  divided 
against  himself.  Christ  intimates,  that  Avhich  is  divided 
against  itself,  cannot  stand.  If  so,  then  Deity  being  di- 
vided, must  fall,  and  of  course  the  works  of  nature  sink, 
andgo  to  ruin.  Thus  we  see  the  inconsistency  of  divi- 
ding and  subdividing  God's  will. 

There  is  no  account  of  Pharaoh's  heart  being  more 
hard  than  others,  until  he  became  hardened;  but  it  ap- 
peareth  from  Rom.  v.  19,  20,  that  the  hearts  of  all  people 
are  alike  hard  by  nature.  Well,  saith  one,  what  is  the 
meaning  of  that  scripture,  "  For  the  same  purpose  have 
I  raised  thee  up,  that  I  may  shew  forth  my  power  in  thee. 
And  I  Avill  harden  his  heart,  and  he  shall  not  let  the  peo- 
ple go,"  Sic.  Answer — the  Lord  raised  Pharaoh  up. — 
Up  from  what  ?  From  the  dust  unto  a  child,  from  a  child 
to  a  man,  to  be  a  king  on  the  throne  ;  that  he  might 
shew  forth  his  power  in  him.  And  he  has  raised  up  you, 
and  me,  and  all  m.ankind,  for  the  same  purpose  ;  viz.  To 
shew  forth  his  power  in  us;  if  it  be  not  for  that,  what  is 
iffor?  We  read  in  several  places  that  the  Lord  hard- 
ened Pharaoh,  and  yet  that  Pharaoh  hardened  himself: 
how  could  that  be  ?  God  do  it !  and  yet  Pharaoh  do  it ! 
10 


154  ELECTION,    UNIVERSALISM,  ETC. 

We  read  ihat  tho  Lord  aiTIicted  Job,  and  yet  that  Satai? 
did  it : — (Job  xiji;^  21,  ii.  7,)  and  that  the  Lord  moved  Da- 
vid  to  number  Israel,  and  yet  that  Satan  did  it,  &c. 
(2  Sam.  xxiv.  1.  1  Chron.  xxv.  L)  and  that  Solomon 
built  the  temple,  and  yet  tells  how  his  many  wcrl'men 
did  it.  Thus  ws  see  there,i3  a  first  cause,  and  a  second 
cause ;  as  saith  the  poet : — 

"No  evil  can  from  God  procccHl, 
'Tvvas  only  suffered,  not  decreed  ; 
As  darkness  is  not  frotn  the  ;«iri, 
Nor  mounts  the  shades  till  i-e  is  gone." 

Heason  saith,  that  mankind  are  agents  or  else  prophets  ;• 
for  they  can  foretell  some  things,  and  then  fulfil  them. 
^l/^  this  is  the  truth,  and  you  cannot  deny  it.  If  sO; 
then  it  m.ay  be  said  with  propriety,  that  the  Lord  harden- 
ed the  heart  of  Pharaoh,  and  yet  that  Pharaoh  hardened 
him.self,  even  as  mankind  are  hardened  in  this  our  da\', 
&c.  Observe,  first,  the  Lord  called  to  Pharaoh  by  fa- 
Tor,  and  gave  him  a  kingdom.  Secondly,  the  Lord  cal- 
led by  commandments,  and  Pharaoh  v/ould  not  obey,  by 
saying,  "  I  know  not  the  Lord,  neither  will  I  let  Israel 
go."  Then  the  Lord  called  thirdly,  by  miracles,  but 
Pharaoh  reasoned  against  them  in  a  diabolical  way,  by 
setting  the  magicians  to  Avork.  Then,  fourthly,  God 
called  by  affliction ;  then  Pharaoh  made  a  promise  to 
obey  God,  and  let  the  Jews  depart,  if  the  afniction  might 
be  removed:  but  v/hsn  the  judgment  was  removed,  Pha- 
raoh broke  his  promise ;  therein  he  was  to  blame, 
(^^  and  you  cannot  deny  it — for  by  breaking  his  prom- 
ise, his  heart  v/culd  naturally  become  harder,  like  metal 
when  melted  it  is  tender,  and  when  grown  cold  is  hard- 
er than  before,  and  of  cpr.rse  requires  a  hotter  fire  to 
melt  it  again  ;  so  it  required  a  heavier  judgment  to  ope- 
rate on  Pharaoh';  and  God  vrould  send  it,  and  Pharaoh 


ELECTION,    U:-«IVEUSALIS:.Ij    ETC.  155 

\vcu]d  prooTise  and  break  them,  till  ten  afflictions  passed- 
iiway  ;  and  when  thy  firbt-born  was  sl^n  by  the  Lord, 
jUid  yet  by  evil  angols,  ds  David  in  the  PsaliiiS  tells  you, 
Pharaoh  v/as  shccktJd,  and  let  the  Jews  depart.  He  pur- 
sned  tiicm,  and  God  permitted  hirn  to  be  taken  in  his 
own  fully,  and  drowned  in  the  Red  Sea.  Thus  we  find 
how  God  hardened  Pharaoh's  h^art,  and  yet  how  he 
hardened  himself  by  disobedience  ;  and  so  in  this  our 
day  it  may  be  said,  that  God  hardens  some,  and  yet  they 
harden  themselves,  as  follows:  First,  God  calls  by  pros- 
perity or  favors,  and  yet  many  enjoy  them  witliout  a  feel- 
ing; sense  from  whom  they  How.  Secondly,  God  calls 
by  commandments  ;  an  inward  monitor,  telling  what  is 
right  and  what  is  v/rong :  but  seme  do  not  give  atten- 
tion tliereto,  which,  if  they  would,  they  Avould  hear  the 
voice  nrore  and  more  distinctly,  till  at  leno-th  it  would 
beconie  their  teacher.  Tliirdly,  God  calls  by  miracles; 
the  operation  of  his  Spirit  perhaps  under  preaching',  or 
some  other  cause,  and  they  have  thought.  If  I  could  al- 
waysfecl  as  I  do  now,  I  .-jhould  soon  be  a  Christian ;  or 
if  di  my  companions  would  turn  and  serve  tlte  Lord,  I 
would  gladly  go  with  them  to  heaven.  But  through  in- 
attention, those  serious  impressions,  whir:]i  I  call  mira^- 
cles,  soon  wear  ofi*.  A  miracle  is  something  done  out  of 
the  common  coarse  of  nature,  by  the  operations  of  the 
power  or  Spirit  of  God  ;  therefore,  O  reader,  it  v/as  not 
the  minister  v/ho  made  you  have  those  feelings,  but  the 
power  of  God  ;  therefore,  in  some  sense,  you  have  been 
called  upon  miraculously,  (V^  and  you  cannot  deny  it. 
Fourthly,  God  calls  by  affliction,  and  when  people  are 
taken  sick,  and  view  death  near,  they  make  vows  and 
promises,  and  think  how  ^^-ood  they  will  be  if  God  will 
spare  thsm  and  raise  them  up.  But  v.heh  tliey  are  re- 
covered, they  (Pharaoh  like)  too  soon  forget  their  prom- 


150  ELECTION,    U-VIVERSALISM,  ETC. 

ises.  and  break  their  vows,  and  hereby  become  harder 
than  before,  and  can  do  things  without  remorse,  which 
once  they  wouUl  have  felt  the  lash  of  conscience  for. — 
And  that  preaching,  which  once  would  make  impres- 
sions on  their  mind,  strikes  their  heart  and  bounds  back 
like  a  stone  glancing  against  a  rock.  This  character  ig 
what  may  be  termed  a  Gospel-Jutrdcned  sinner.  Thr.s 
you  may  discover  that  this  plan  clears  the  Divine  char- 
acter, and  casts  the  blame  on  the  creature,  where  it 
ought  to  be  cast:  whereas,  the  opposite  would  cast  the 
blame  directly  on  God,  if  he  decreed  it  so:  this  is  the 
truth,  ([?^  and  you  cannot  deny  it.  Although  Christ 
hath  promised  once  to  draw  all  men  unto  him,  (not  to 
drag,  for  bait  draws  birds,  yet  they  come  voluntarily)  yet 
he  never  promises  to  draw  them  a  second  time,  but  on 
the  other  hand  positively  saith.  My  spirit  shall  not  al- 
ways strive  with  man.  And  again,  Because  I  have 
called  and  ye  have  refused,  but  ye  have  set  at  naught 
my  counsel,  and  would  none  of  my  reproofs,  I  also  will 
laugh  at  your  calamity,  and  mock  when  your  fear  com- 
eth.  Ephraim  is  joined  to  his  idols,  let  him  alone.  And 
the  language  of  a  reprobate  is,  "the  harvest  is  past,  the 
summer  is  ended,  and  we  are  not  save.d."  (Jer.  viii.  20. 
Prov.  i.  24,  25,  26.     Gen.  vi.  3.) 

As  the  Lord  requireth  a  right  sacrifice  in  the  path  of 
(revealed)  duty;  those  who,  like  Cain,  bring  a  wrong  of- 
fering, the  fruit  of  the  ground,  instead  of  the  firstling  of 
the  flock,  like  Abel,  must  expect,  like  Cain,  to  be  reject- 
ed, (Gen.  iv.  7)  for  God  saith,  Behold  I  have  set  life  and 
death  before  you ;  choose  you  this  day  whom  you  will 
serve,  &c.  (Josh.  xxvi.  15.)  One  thing  is  needful,  and 
Mary  hath  chosen  the  good  part.  We  do  not  read  God 
chose  it  for  her:  this  is  the  truth,  (T/^  and  you  cannot 
deny  it. — Even  as  we  read  in  John  iii.  19,  that  this  is 


ELECTION,    UNIVERSALISM,  ETC.  157 

the  condemnation,  that  light  has  come  into  the  v/orld, 
and  men  love  darkness  rather  than  light,  &c.  Oh ! 
reader,  prepare  to  meet  tliy  God  ! 

Objection.  Hath  not  the  potter  power  over  the  clay, 
cf  the  same  lump,  to  make  one  vessel  to  honor,  and  an- 
other to  dishonor? 

Answer.  A  potter  never  makes  any  vessel  on  purpose 
to  destroy  it.  Neither  doth  God  make  any  on  purpose 
for  destruction,  but  all  mankind  are  useful,  if  they  get 
the  spirit  of  their  station,  and  fill  up  that  sphere  for  v/hich 
they  are  qualified.  For  without  servants  there  can  be 
Ko  masters  ;  without  subjects,  no  rulers ;  without  com- 
monality, no  quality  ;  and  any  one  may  observe  tliat  Da- 
vid was  elected  or  set  apart  to  be  kinj^- ;  Jeremiah  and 
Samuel,  to  be  prophets,  &c.  and  any  discerning  eye  may 
easily  discover  tliat  Paul's  election  (Rom.  ix.)  wa^  not 
an  election  to  future  happiness,  but  of  temporal  advan- 
tajres. — And  yet  those  not  so  positive,  but  what  the  priv- 
ileges might  be  forfeited  and  lost  by  sin,  as  you  may 
find,  1  Chron.  xxviii.  9,  10.  If  thou  serve  him  with  a 
perfect  heart,  and  with  a  willing  mind,  he  will  be  found 
of  thee;  but  if  thou  forsake  him,  he  will  cast  thee  off 
forever.  (Deut.  xxx.  15 — 10.)  Bloses's  dying  declara- 
tion was,  that  the  children  of  Israel  must  obey,  and  if 
they  would,  all  needful  blessings  they  should  have,  but 
if  rebellious,  should  be  cursed  and  scattered,  &c. — 
Q^^  This  is  the  truth,  and  you  cannot  deny  it.  And 
observe  Paul,  when  talking  about  the  clay  and  potter, 
alludes  to  Jer.  xviii.  where  the  prophet  was  commanded 
to  see  the  potter  work,  &c.  And  then  God  says,  verse 
Gth,  cannot  I  do  with  you  as  this  potter,  O  house  of  Is- 
rael, &c.  Again,  verse  7th,  at  what  instant  I  shall  speak 
concerning  a  nation  or  kingdom,  to  pluck  up,  pull  down, 
or  destroy  it;  if  that  nation  a^aiast  whom  I  have  pro- 


153  ELlUCTlOy,   UMVEr.SAT.IS?J,  E'iC. 

nounced,  "turn  from  their  evil,  I  will  repent  of  the  evil 
I  thought  to  do  nnto  them."  ^' At  what  instr.nt  I  shall 
speak  concerning-  a  nation  or  kingdorn,  to  huild  or  plant 
it,  if  it  do  evil  in  my  sight,  that  it  ohey  not  my  voice, 
then  will  I  repent  of  the  good  wherewith  I  said  I  would 
benefit  them." 

Now  observe,  if  God  he  unchangeable,  as  Pard  saith, 
God  cannot  lie,  then  he  is  boi.nd  by  his  immutability  or 
the  law  of  his  nature,  to  perform  his  promises  to  the 
obedient,  and  his  threatnings  against  tlie  disobedient ; 
and  this  is  the  truth,  QT/^  s^nd  you  cannot  deny  it.  Ob- 
jection. Bible  language  is,  I  will,  and  you  shall;  and 
the  promises  are  yea  and  amen,  without  any  ifs  or  ands. 

Answer.  'To  take  Iha  promises  without  the  CGndUicVy 
is  a  practi(Te  of  Satan,  (Luke  iv.  10,  12)  which  he  made 
use  of  to  our  Lord  to  get  him  to  fall  down  from  the  bat- 
tlement of  the  temple,  and  thereby  tempt  God,  and  pre- 
sume on  God,  because  of  the  promise  which  the  devil 
inte;ided  he  should  think  to  he  unconditional :  and  S(> 
bejir  him  up  in  the  way  of  ddsohedience.  Whereas  our 
Saviour. knowing  the  path  ofdui'j  to  be  the  way  o^ siifdy., 
replied,  'Tis  written,  thou  shalt  not  tempt  the  Lord  thy 
God.  For  in  tl-.e  v/ay  of  obedience  there  is  apvmise  of 
preservation,  and  in  the  v^-ay  of  disobedience  a  ilwecden- 
ing  of  destruction ;  this  is  the  truth,  Qj?^  and  you  cannot 
deny  it;  therefore  to  cut  these  two  little  letters  IF  out 
of  the  bible,  whicli  make  such  a  great  significant  word, 
is  wrong;  seeing  it  is  so  frequent  in  scripture  :  and  fre- 
quently there  are  conditions  implied  in  the  bible,  though 
hot  expressed;  for  instance,  David,  when  at  Eeilah  (I 
Sam.  xxiii.  &c.)  inquired  of  tlio  Lord  whether  Saul  would 
come  down,  and  the  rhen  of  the  city  deliver  him  up,  and 
the  Lord  ansvvered  in  the  affirmative.  Here  is  no  con- 
dition expressed^  yet  there  is  one  implied :  for  David 


ELECTION,    UxNlVERSALISM,  F.TC.  159 

left  tho  city  and  fjod  to  the  wilderness;  so  Siiul  came 
not  down,  neitlier  did  tiie  people  deliver  him  »ip.  A^-arn, 
God  said  to  tho  Ninevites,  by  Jonah,  Yet  forty  days  and 
Nmevah  shall  be  overthrown.  Now  if  you  say  all 
threatenings  are  without  conditions,  you  give  God  the 
iie ;  for  the  city  was  spared  in  consequence  of  their  be- 
lieving God,  and  turning*  from  their  evil  ways,  Jonah  iii, 
5 — 10.  This  is  ihe  truth,  (T/^and  you  cannot  deny  it 
Again,  Ezek.  xxxiii.  &c.  There  is  a  condition  implied 
and  explained  undeniably,  though  not  so  fully  expressed 
at  the  first,  cone '.'rning  the  righteous  and  wicked  man, 
which  you  may  read  at  your  leisure;  this  is  the  truth, 
OCj^and  you  cannot  deny  it.  Objectien:  Says  one, 
'"God  will  have  mercy  on  whom  he  will  have  mercy," 
Slc.     Answer : 

"God  will  have  merf*y  on  whom  lie  will, 

Con^.e  tliinU  you  who  they  bo  ? 
'Tiri  every  one  that  loves  Jiis  Son, 

And  from  their  sins  do  flee  ; 

'Tis  every  one  that  doth  repent, 

And  truly  hates  his  sin  : 
^Tis  every  one  that  is  content, 

To  turn  to  God  again. 

Ajid  wisoin  he  will  \\q  hardeneiJi, 

Come  think  you  who  tlscy  be? 
'Tis  every  one  that  hates  his  Son, 

Likewise  liis  liberty. 

'Tis  evry  one  that  in  sin  pcrsis^i, 

And  do  outstand  their  day; 
Then  God  in  justice  leaves  them  to 

Their  own  hearts'  insts  a  prey." 

Objec.  "r%  people  shall  be  made  willing  in  the  day 
of  my  power,-'  says  one.  Answer,  That  is  home-made 
scripture,  for  the  Almighty  does  not  so  speak,  but  king 
David  (Psa.  ex. 3.) speaks  to  the  Almighty,  ''Thy  people 


160  ELECTION,    UNIVERSALISM,  ETC. 

shall  bo  willing  in  the  day  of  thy  power."  He  does  not 
say,  they  shall  be  marie  willinof;  the  word  niade  is  not 
therp,  neither  has  it  any  business  there.  Again,  those 
little  words  in  italic  letters  were  not  in  the  original,  but 
were  put  in  by  the  translators  to  make  what  they  think 
to  be  sense  in  tlie  English  language;  and  those  little 
■words,  ^^  shall  be"  are  in  italic  letters,  of  course  put  in  by 
the  translators  ;  now  I  leave  them  out,  and  in  lieu  there- 
of, put  in  the  are,  and  then  read  it,  "  Tliy  people  are  wil- 
ling in  the  day  ofthj  power."  Now  is  the  day  of  God's 
power,  and  now  his  people  are  willing;  they  are  always 
a  willing  people.  It  is  the  reprobate  character  that  is 
unwilling  that  God's  will  should  be  done:  this  is  the 
truth,  (V;/^  and  you  cannot  deny  it.  (Matt.  vii.  24 — 26.) 
Object.  Christ  did  not  pray  for  all  mankind,  &c.  An- 
swer. That's  a  lie,  for  John  xvii.  9 ;  First,  Chi4«t  prayed 
for  his  disciplqs  :  Secondly,  ver.  20,  for  those  who  should 
believe  on  him  through  their  word  ;  and  thirdly,  for  the 
whole  world,  (ver.  21 — 23,)  thus,  "that  the  ivorld  may 
believe  that  thou  hast  sent  me."  Again,  that  the  u'orld 
may  know  that  thou  hast  sent  me,  and  this  does  not 
mean  A-donble-L-part.  Object.  Paul  says,  Rom.  viii. 
Whom  God  foreknew  he  predestinated,  called,  justified, 
and  glorified,  &c.  Here  is  no  condition  expressed,  of 
course,  it  appeareth  that  he  glorified  all  that  he  justified,, 
called,  and  predestinated,  and  foreknew,  &c.  Answer. 
If  that  be  taken- just  as  it  stands,  without  any  conditions 
whatever,  it  will  follow,  that  Universalism  is  true,  or 
else,  that  we  are  all  reprobates.  For  God  foreknows 
one  as  much  as  another,  in,  every  sense  of  the  word,  and 
of  course  foreknows  all  mankind;  and  now,  if  all  that 
he  foreknows,  predestinates,  calls,  justifies,  and  glorifies,, 
withor.t  any  conditionj  in  any  shape,  or  sense,  it  uadeni.- 


ELECTIO:^,    UNIVERSALISM,  ETC.  161 

ably  argues,  the  universal  salvation  of  every  son  of  Ad- 
am.    This  is  the  truth,  {^^  and  you  cannot  deny  it. 

Object.  We  read,  as  many  as  were  ordained  to  eter- 
nal life,  believed.  Answer.  True,  but  the  word  or- 
dained, signifies,  set  apart  as  a  minister  for  his  office. 
Thus  Jeremiah  was  set  apart  a  prophet.  And  David 
saith,  "  The  Lord  hath  set  apart  him  that  is  godly  for 
himself."  Psal.  iv.  3,  And  there  is  no  account  of  any 
being  set  apart  for  the  Lord's  self,  but  the  godly.  No 
man  is  godly,  or  godlike,  but  the  believer;  therefore, 
none  are  ordained,  or  set  apart  for  heaven,  but  those  that 
believe.  Besides,  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles  were  written 
some  time  after  the  things  took  place,  and  of  course  is 
all  written  in  the  past  tense.  Ordained,  is  in  the  past 
tense,  and  so  i^  believed,  and  there  is  no  account  of  the 
one  being  prior  to  the  other.  But  it  may  be  said,  as 
many  as  believed,  were  then  ordained  to  eternal  life,  as 
none  are  ordained  or  set  apart  for  eternal  life,  but  the 
saints ;  no  man  is  a  saint  except  he  believes.  For  he 
that  believeth  not  is  condemned  already,  saith  Christ. — 
Therefore,  as  soon  as  one  believes,  he  is  free  from  con- 
demnation, and  of  course  set  apart  for  heaven,  and  not 
before ;  he  being  in  Christ  now  by  the  act  of  faith. — 
Now  observe,  Peter  talks  about  elect  in  Christ,  not  out 
of  him. — Paul  saith,  2  Cor.  v.  17.  If  any  man  be  in 
Christ,  he  is  a  new  creature,  fee.  and  Rom.  viii.  1,  saith, 
there  is  now  (not  yesterday  or  to-morrow)  no  condemna- 
tion to  them  which  are  in  Christ  Jesus  ;  who  ivalk  not 
after  the  flesh,  hut  after  the  Spirit,  4*c.,  which  implies,  there 
is  condemnation  to  those  who  are  not  in  Christ,  but 
walk  after  the  flesh,  and  not  after  the  Spirit.  And  Paul 
saith,  they  which  have  not  the  Spirit  of  Christ,  are  none 
of  his,  Rom.  viii.  9.  And  John  saith,  he  that  committeth 
Bin,  is  of  the  devil.    2  John  iii.  8.    And  again,  no  man 


IG'i  ELECTION,    UNIVERSALISM,  ETC. 

can  call  Jesus  Lord,  but  by  the  Holy  Ghost.  But  as 
man-;}  as  are  led  hy  ilie  Spirit  of  God,  they  are  the  so7i3  of 
GOD. 

Query.  If  all  tiling's  are  decreed  rig-ht,  is  it  not  evi- 
dent that  there  is  no  such  thin'r  as  sin  or  g'uilt?  For  it 
cannot  be  wrong  to  fulfil  right  decrees. — Consequently, 
there  can  bo  no  redemption,  for  there  is  nothing  to  re- 
deem them  from  ;  consequently,  if  mankiild  think  they 
have  sinned  and  are  redeemed,  their  thoughts  must  be 
a  deception,  and  are  imaginary:  and  of  course  their 
praising  God  for  redeeming  love  is  folly — for  they  praise 
him  for  that  which  he  never  did.  Now  supposing  this 
imaginary,  false,  mistaken  idea,  that  they  "had  been 
sinners  and  were  redeemed,"  was  removed,  and  they  so 
enlightened  as  to  discover  that  nothing-  according  to 
right  decrees  had  ever  taken  place  wrong,  &.c.  Kow 
would  the  heavenly  host  be  astonished  to -think  they  had 
been  deceived.^ — What  silence  v/ould  immediately  en- 
sue ! 

Some  people  hold  to  a  falling  from  grace,  v/hich  I 
think  is  wrong ;  for  say  they,  if  we  were  always  to  be  in 
the  light,  we  should  grow  proud;  therefore  it  is  neces- 
sary that  we  should  have  a  darkless  to  make  us  feel  our 
Aveakness  and  dependence. — From  this  it  appears,  that 
they  think  a  little  sin  is  necessary  for  the  perfecting  of 
the  saints:  (j^?^  and  you  cannot  deny  it.  "  Now  to  hold 
a  thing  necessary  implies  holding  to  it,  the  same  as  I 
think  duty,  or  perfection  in  love  to  be  necessary,  there- 
fore I  hold  it.  Thus  you  see  they  hold  to  a  falling  from 
grace,  v,  hicii  I  think  wrong.  Yet  I  adopt  the  idea  that 
a  man  can  fall  from  grace  according  to  conscience,  rea- 
son, and  scripture,  v.-hich  idea  some  people  think  to  be 
dangerous;  but  I  think  it  is  not  naturally  attended  with 
such  bad  consequences  as  the  other :  for  if  a  man  thinks 


ELECTIOrr,    U>'iVER3ALISM,  ETC.  1G3 

ho  is  safe,  he  is  not  apt  to  look  ont  for  danger,  v.  hereas 
if  ho  fhinh  there  is  danger,  he  is  apt,  like  tho  mariner,  to 
look  out  for  breakers.  Aguin,  supposing-  I  ho.ve  relig- 
ion, I  think  I  can  fall  so  as  to  perish  everlastinj;ly. — 
Here  i-?  another  man  v/ith  the  same  degree  of  religion, 
believing-  orxe  in  i^race,  always  in  gi'ace.  Now  if  my 
idea  o?  ihe  possibility  of  falling,  &c.,  be  false,  his  Gcnti- 
ment,  if  true,  will  certainly  reach  me;  so  I  am  cite  as 
he.  But  supposing  his  doctrine  to  be  false  and  mino 
true,  he  is  gone  for  it,  and  mine  will  not  reach  him. 

So  you  see  I  have  two  strings  to  my  bow  to  his  one. 
(T/^This  i-j  the  truth,  and  you  cannot  deny  it.  Now 
reader,  observe,  as  I  heard  of  a  seine  oh  Rhode-Island 
which  cauglit  a  school  of  fish,  and  for  fear  of  the  escape 
of  some,  a  number  of  seines  encircled  the  inclosed,  so 
that  thay  could  not  escape,  and  if  any  did  escape  tho  first 
or  second  net,  the  others  should  catch  them,  &.c.  So 
you  may  plainly  dir-covcr  as  I  have  linked  the  above 
doctrines,  if  some  of  my  ideas  are  false,  the  other  ideas 
as  so  many  seines  will  catch  me.  Qnce  in  grace,  ahoays 
in  grace,  or  Predestination,  c-r  Univcrsalism,  or  Deism 
with  Mheism.  But  if  they  are  false,  those  characters 
are  gone,  if  they  have  nothing  ekse  to  depend  upon  but 
principles — yet  I  still  may  be  safe.  This  is  the  truth, 
\xj^  and  you  cannot  deny  it. 

Again,. Peter  tells  us  of  some  that  have  forgotten  that 
they  were  purged  from  their  old  sins,  and  even  escaped 
the  pollutions  of  the  world,  through  the  knowledge  of 
Christ,  occ. — and  yet  arc  again  entangled  therein.  And* 
saith  he,  it  had  been  better  for  them  not  to  have  known 
the  way  of  righteousness,  than  after  they  have  kno-.vn  it, 
to  tujn  from,  &c.  (2  Pet.  i.  9,  and  ii.  20,  &c.)  to  the  end, 
how  could  tliey  have  forgot  that  v/!iich  they  never  knew  ? 
Again,  (Heb,  vi.  4  to  7,)  what  higher  attainments  can 


164  ELECTION,    UNIVERSALISM,  ETC. 

any  one  have  than  are  liere  mentioned — and  2  Pet.  iii. 
17,  &:c.  if  any  man  thinketh  he  standeth,  let  him  take' 
heed  lest  he  fall,  (1  Cor.  x.  12.  Rom.  xi.  20,  21.  Heb.  iv. 
1.)  Observe,  there  were  six  hundred  thousand  Jews,  all 
■well,  active  men,  &c.,  which  came  out  of  Egypt  with 
Moses,  and  one  was  in  as  fair  a  way  for  Canaan  as 
another ;  and  God  promised  as  positively  to  carry  them 
to  the  promised  land,  as  ever  he  promised  to  carry  the 
saint  from  earth  to  heaven  ;  only  four  got  through  the 
wilderness.  Aaron  and  Moses  died  on  the  mountains, 
and  Caleb  and  Joshua  reached  the  desired  country.  But 
all  the  others,  who,  it  appears,  were  once  favorites  of 
Leaven,  from  Paul's  talk,  1  Cor.  x.  3,  4,  k,c.,  as  Paul 
saith,  they  all  drank  of  Christ,  the  Spiritual  Rosk,  &c., 
and  yet  some  of  them  tempted  him,  &:c.,  ver.  9,  and  thus 
they  all  by  sin  fell  in  the  wilderness.  And  Paul  addeth, 
moreover,  that  these  things  happened  unto  them  for  ex- 
amples— and  were  written  for  our  admonition,  ver.  1]. 
Now  what  need  of  saints  being  admonished,  if  there  be 
no  danger  of  losing  the  spiritual  land  of  rest  ?  Paul  was 
afraid  of  falling,  ix.  27.  But  observe,  though  God  had 
promised  to  carry  the  Jews  to  Canaan,  &c.,  yet  there 
was  a  condition  implied.  Numb.  xiv.  34,  and  ye  shall 
know  my  breach  of  promise.  That  was  a  condition  im- 
plied, though  not  fully  expressed  before.  Gen.  xvii.  8, 
28.  xiii.  50.  xxiv.  25.  Heb.  xi.  2.  Exod.  iii.  16,  17,  &c. 
Lev.  xxvi.  27,  28,  «Sz.c.  Hark  !  If  you  will  not  for  all  this 
hearken  unto  me  (saith  God)  but  walk  contrary  unto  me, 
then  I  will  walk  contrary  unto  you  also  in  fury,  and  I, 
even  I,  will  chastise  you  seven  times  for  your  sins.  Now 
if  all  things  are  decreed  right  straight  forward,  how 
could  the  Jews  walk  contrary  to  God?  And  if  not,  how 
could  God  walk  contrary  to  them?  God  help  thee  to 
consider  this  if  there  be  no  condition  implied  ;  and  like- 


ELECTION,    UNIVERSALISM,  ETC.  ]65 

wise,  Exod.  xiii.  17.  Numb.  xiv.  21,  22,  23,  24,  &c.  Be- 
cause those  men,  which  have  seen  my  glory,  and  mira- 
cles which  I  did  in  Egypt  and  in  the  wilderness,  and 
have  tempted  me  now  these  ten  times,  and  have  not 
hearkened  to  my  voice,  surely  they  shall  not  see  the  land 
v/hich  I  sware  unto  their  fathers,  &:c.,  ver.  34.  God  help 
you  to  take  warning  by  the  Jews,  for  it  is  evident,  that 
according  to  the  words  of  ^Moses,  Deut.  xxviii.  that  great 
blessings  were  promised,  if  the  nation  would  obey,  and 
curses  in  consequence  of  disobedience,  which  ideas  were 
confirmed  in  the  dying  speech  ot  Joshua  xxiv.  20,  which 
was  fulfilled,  according  to  the  book  of  Judges.  When 
it  went  well  with  the  Jews,  we  find  they  were  serving 
God  ;  but  when  they  did  evil,  God  sold  them  into  the 
hands  of  their  enemies.  God  help  thee  to  compare  the 
promises  and  threatenings  in  Deuteronomy,  with  the 
book  of  Judges,  &c.  And  observe  God's  dealings 
thenceward,  and  apply  that  to  Matt.  vii.  24,  &c.,  and  ob- 
serve the  gospel,  for  we  are  to  take  warning  by  God's 
dealings  with  the  ancients,  and  square  our  lives  accord- 
ingly, because  to  judgment  v/e  must  come,  and  be  judg- 
ed with  strict  justice,  and  receive  sentence  accordingly ; 
either  "  come  ye  blessed,  or  depart  ye  cursed."  Matt 
XXV.  34,  41,  &c.  Now  observe,  if  I  am  guilty,  I  must 
have  pardon  here,  and  then  if  my  life  from  the  day  of 
forgiveness  brings  forth  good  fruit  from  a  holy  heart,  it 
is  right ;  consequently  the  reward  must  ensue  accord- 
ingly. But  if  I  turn,  and  willingly  love  sin  again,  my 
conduct  flowing  from  that  evil  desire,  thus  living  and 
dying,  my  sentence  must  be  accordingly,  agreeable  to 
the  principles  of  true  justice ;  Q;^^  this  is  the  truth,  and 
you  cannot  deny  it.  Read  attentively  about  the  good 
and  evil  servants,  from  Matt.  xxiv.  46  to  48,  &c.,  and 
xviii.  23,  &c. 


IGG  ELECTION,    U:iIVER.SALI3:,I,  ETC. 

Observe,  Paul  oxliorts  Tiniolliy  to  war  a  j^ood  v.-ar- 
fare,  hold'ir.^  fa'lh  and  a  good  coRi^dc-icz^  which,  tu.ith 
he,  some  havin;^  put  away  concerning  Jetf/t,  have  made 
shipurcck;  of  v/hom  is  liymer.eus  and  Alexander,  1 
Tim.  i.  19.  John  r.v.  Christ  sailh,  "I  am  the  true  vino, 
and  my  Father  is  the  husbaRanian;  every  branch  in  mo 
that  bearcth  not  fruit,  he  takcth  a'.vay,  (observe,  he  could 
not  take  them  av/ay  unless  they  were  lliere,)  and  every 
Ijrancli  thatbeareth  fi-uitjhe  purgeth  it,  that  it  may  brin^ 
forth-  more  fruit..  Now  ye  are  clean,  through  the  word 
\vliich  I  have  spoken  unto  von."  Observe,  a  sinner  is 
not  clean,  but  filthy.  But  if  these  v.erc  made  clean 
through  the  word  of  Christ,  r.s  just  mcntioRed,  then  they 
■were  saints,  ([/^^nd  you  caiinot  deny  it ;  vcr.  4,"  Abide 
in  me,  and  I  in  you.  As^  the  branch  cannot  bear  fruit  of 
itself,  ex::ept  it  abide  in  the^vine,  no  more  can  ye,  ex- 
cept ye  abide  in  me ;  I  am  the  vine,  ye  arc  the  branch- 
es, «&c. — ver.  6,  "  If  a  man  abide  r.ot  in  me,  he  is  cast 
forth  as  a  branch,  and  is  withered,"  kc.  Observe,  a  sin- 
ner is  not  compared'to  a  green  tree,  but  a  dry;  this 
could  not  vv-ither  except  it  v.ere  green,  and  a  branch 
once  v/ii!iered,  it  is  hard  to  make  it  p-een  again,  kc, 
but  they  are  gathered  and  burned — verse 7,  8.  "If  yc 
abide  in  me,  and  my  v/ords  abide  in  you,  ye  shall  ask 
what  ye  will,  and  it  shall  be  done  unto  you ;  herein  is 
my  Father  glorified,  that  ye  bear  much  fiuit,  £,o  shall  ye 
be  my  dusciples ;"  \erse  D — Continue  ye  in  my  love. — 
Now  ye  m:"iy  see  that  the  five  little  letters  that  are  here- 
in enclosed,  which  too  many  people  overlook,  and  which 
fixes  the  sense  of  a  grreat  m.any  scriptures,  running  par- 
allel through  t'h;)  bible,  fee,  vis.  "  if  and  eth."  Now  the 
bible  runneth  tl-us :  if  ye  do  so  and  so,  I  will  do  eo  find 
so ;  ana  if  ye  do  so  and  so,  I  will  do  so  and  so,  &c. — 
And  a^aiu,  "  cd"  past  tense,  we  find  but  liltlc  in  the  bi- 


ELECTiOX,    UMVERSALISM,  ETC,  iG/ 

ble.     But  the  acripture,  instead  of  making  a  yosterday 
Christian,  it  muketli  a  present,  evory-day  Christian.^ 
Thus,  he  that  helievelh,  keareth,  seeth,  under standdh,  hiow^ 
dh,  pursueth,  ivatcheth,  hath,  cnjoyeth,  and  cudardk ;  this 
13  the  truth,  (^/^  and  you  cannot  deny  it,  for  the  bible 
doth  not  inquire  what  I  was  yesterday,  but  wjiat  I  am 
7toiu  ?     Objection.  Christ  saith,  my  sheep  hear  my  voice  ; 
they  fellow  me,  and  sliall  never  perish,  neither  shall  any 
man  pluck  them  out  of  my  hand,  &,c.,  John  x.  27,  '28. — 
Ai'Swer.     Here  the  saint  is  represented  by  the  simili- 
tude of  a  sneep,  hearing  and  following  a  shepherd  ;  and 
observe  the  promise  is  made,  as  before  observed,  to  a 
certain  obedient  character,  and  here  the  promise  is  to 
the  <e  that  Ji^L-rr  ;    hearing  doth  not  mean  stopping  your 
ears,  of  being  careless  and  inattentive:  bet  it  implieth, 
giving  strict  attention  to  the  object  Avhichrenuiretii  the 
same  ;  and  following,  likewise,  doth  not  mean  running 
the  other  way,  but  a  voluntary  coming  aft.er.     There- 
fore, there  is  a  condition  implied  and  expressed  in  this 
passage,  viz.  hear  and  follow,  and  the  promise  is  to  that 
character ;  of  course  a  backslider  doth  not  imitate  it,  and 
of  course  cannot  claim  the  promise  but  v/hat  he  may 
perish  ;  may  turn  away  according  to  Ezekicl  xxxiii.  18, 
''  When  the  righteous  [man]  turneth  from  his  righteous- 
ness, and  committeth  iniquity,  he  shall  even  die  thci'e- 
by,"  &c. 

Object.  The  death  there  spoken  of  if3  temporah  An- 
swer— I  deny  it,  for  the  body  v/iil  die,  v>hctherybu  sin 
or  not :  and  God  when  he  meaneth  the  body,  doth  not 
say  the  soul,  bat  positively  declares,  "the  soul  that  sin- 
neth,  it  shall  die."— Chap,  xviii.  4. 

Object.  But  the  rigliteous  man  there  spoken  of.  is  a 
self-righteous  man.  Answer — I  deny  it,  for  he  is  pro- 
nounced a  righteous  man  by  God  himself,  and  how  can 


168  ELECTION,   UNIVERSALISM,  ETC. 

he  be  righteous  in  the  judg'ment  of  God,  without  saving 
faith  ?  God  doth  not  call  a  wicked  man  good,  nor  a  good 
man  evil ;  yet  you  say,  that  him  that  God  here  pro- 
nounceth  righteous,  is  only  self-righteous,  a  Pharisee. — 
Oh  !  scandalous  for  any  man  to  twist  the  scriptures  thus! 
Now  look  at  it  in  your  own  glass;  self-righteousness 
being  Avickedness,  we  will  style  it  iniquity,  and  the  man 
an  iniquitous  man,  and  then  read  it,  "  when  an  iniquitous 
man  turneth  away  from  his  iniquity,  and  committeth  in- 
iquity, for  his  iniquity,  &c.  shall  he  die  ;"  read  the  above 
twice  over,  and  then  sound  and  see,  if  there  be  any  bot* 
torn  or  top  according  to  your  exposition.  Leaving  your 
shameless  construction,  I  pass  on  to  answer  another  ob- 
jection, which  may  be  urged  from  Rom.  viii.  38,  39, 
where  Paul  saith,  "I  am  persuaded  that  neither  death, 
nor  life,  nor  angels,  principalities,  powers,  things  pres- 
ent or  to  come,  nor  height  nor  depth,  nor  any  other  crea- 
ture, shall  be  able  to  separate  us  from  the  love  of  God," 
&c. 

Observe,  though  Paul  speaks  of  a  second  cviuse  not  be- 
ing able  to  separate  us  from  the  enjoyment  of  God's  love ; 
yet  he  doth  not  say  but  what  vrE  may  separate  ourselves 
by  disobedience,  which  is  sin.  Sin  is  not  a  creature  as 
some  people  falsely  think ;  but  sin  is  a  non-conformity 
to  the  will  of  God.  If  you  still  say  that  sin  is  a  crea- 
ture, I  ask  you  what  shape  it  is  in,  or  what  color  it  is  of, 
or  how  many  eyes  or  wings  it  hath,  or  whether  it  crawls 
like  a  snake  ?  Paul  doth  not  term  it  a  creature,  but 
agreeth  with  St.  John,  where  he  saith,  sin  is  the  trans- 
gi'tssion  of  the  law,  and  where  there  is  no  law  there  is 
no  transgression  ;  and  being  not  without  law  to  God,  but 
under  the  law  of  Christ.  The  Ciiristian  still  feeleth 
himself  conscientiously  accountable  unto  God,  (j;]/^  and 
you  cannot  deny  it     1  John  iii.  4.    Rom.  iii.  20.   iv.  15. 


ELECTION,   UNIVERSALISM,   ETC.  169 

1  Cor.  ix.  21,  for  we  read,  not  that  a  good  man  falletb  in- 
to sin  every  day,  and  still  is  in  the  way  to  heaven,  bein» 
a  child  of  God,  but  to  the  reverse — 1  John  iii.  8.  "He 
that  committeth  sin  is  of  the  devil,  John  viii.  34  ;  who- 
soever coinrnitteth  sin  is  the  servant  of  sin,"  ver.  36.  "If 
the  Son  therefore  shall  make  you  free,  ye  shall  be  free 
indeed."  Rom.  vi.  18.  "  Being  then  made  free  from 
sin,  ye  became  the  servants  of  righteousness — vi.  20,  for 
when  ye  were  the  servants  of  sin,  ye  were  free  from 
righteousness;  v.  22,  23,  but  now  being  made  free  from 
sin,  &c.,  for  the  wages  of  sin  is  death." 

Query — Who  ever  fell  from  grace  ?  Answer.  We 
are  informed,  1  Sam.  xv.  17,  that  when  Saul  was  little 
in  his  own  eyes,  God  exalted  him  to  be  king  over  Israel,^ 
and  X.  6,  when  Samuel  anointed  him,  he  said,  "  The 
Spirit  of  the  Lord  will  come  upon  theo,  and  thou  shalt 
prophesy,  and  shalt  be  turned  into  another  man,"  &.c. 
Ver.  9,  we  read  moreover,  that  God  gave  him  another 
heart,  &c.,  and  what  sort  of  a  heart  God  gives,  I  leave 
you  to  judge.  And  God  seemed  to  prosper  Saul  while 
he  was  humble,  xiii.  12.  It  appeareth  after  two  years 
that  his  heart  got  lifted  up  with  pride,  and  the  Lord  sent 
him  to  utterly  destroy  the  Amalekites,  and  all  things  be- 
longing thereto,  according  to  the  commandment  by  Mo- 
ses ;  but  Saul  rebelled  and  committed  a  sin  thereby, 
which  was  as  the  sin  of  witchcraft  and  idolatry,  xv.  23, 
after  this  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  departed  from  him  ;  and 
afterwards  Saul  murdered  himself  in  the  field  of  battle. 
And  we  read,  no  murderer  hath  eternal  life  abiding  in 
him ;  and  that  murderers  hereafter  shall  be  shut  out  of 
the  Holy  City,  xvi.  14,  and  xxxi.  4.  1  John  iii.  15.  Rev. 
xxii.  15.  But,  saith  one,  was  not  David  a  man  after 
God's  own  heart,  when  committing  adultery  and  mur- 
der ? — Answer. 

11 


170  ELECTIONS,    LNIVERS'ALISM,    ETC. 

adulterer,  nor  a  murderer.  And  again,  nt)  murderer  hath 
eternal  life  abiding  in  him.  1  John  iii.  15 !  And  sup- 
posing David  was  a  man  after  God's  own  heart  when 
feeding  his  father's  sheep,  that  is  no  sign  he  was  when 
committing  adultery  and  murder,  any  more  than  if  I 
were  honest  seven  years  ago,  and  then  turned  thief— am 
I  honest  still  because  I  was  once.  This  is  the  truth, 
02?^  and  you  cannot  deny  it.  But  observe,  the  Lord 
was  displeased  with  David,  being  angry  with  the  wicked 
every  day ;  and  there  is  no  account  that  the  Lord  put 
away  David's  sin  until  he  confessed  it,  &c. — 2  Sam.  xi. 
27,  xii.  13,  and  all  backsliders  who  sincerely  repent  may 
receive  pardon,  as  David  did,  &c.  But  yet  there  is  no 
scripture  that  saith,  they  shall  be  brought  to  repentance 
irresistably,  whether  they  v^ill  or  not ;  for  God  will  have 
volunteers  for  henven,  or  none  at  all.  Rev.  xxii.  14— J 7, 
We  cannot  with  reason  suppose  that  a  king  would  choose 
an  enemy  as  an  ambassador,  with  an  embassage  to  reb- 
els, but  a  friend :  neither  can  v/e  suppose  with  propriety, 
that  God  or  Christ  would  call  an  enemy,  a  child  of  the 
devil,  to  go  and  preach  and  do  miracles,  but  a  friend. — 
Yet  we  find  in  Illatt.  x.that  Judas  with  the  others,  was 
positively  called,  and  commanded  to  preach,  and  had 
power  to  raise  the  dead,  heal  the  sick,  and  cast  out  dev- 
ils, &c.  And  the  tuelve  went  out,  and  returned,  &c. — 
It  speaks  of  them  collectively,  but  not  individually,  do- 
ing miracles  till  after  Christ's  resurrection.  Chap.  xix. 
Peter  saith,  ive  have  forsaken  all,  (not  I)  and  followed 
thee,  what  shall  Ave  have  therefore  ?  Christ  answereth? 
verse  -23.  Verily  (or  certainly)  I  say  unto  you,  that  ye 
which  have  followed  me  in  the  regeneration,  when  the 
Son  of  man  shall  sit  on  the  throne  of  his  glory,  ye  shall 
also  sit  upon  twelve  thrones,  judging  the  tribes  of  Israel* 
Now  I  ask,  how  they  could  follow  Christ  in  the  regen- 


ELECTION,    UNIVERSALISM,    ETC.  171 

cration,  except  they  were  reg-enerated,  i.  e.  born  again  ? 
Doth  it  not  mean  Judas  for  one,  seeing  there  were  twelve 
apostles,  twelve  thrones  and  twelve  tribes?  a  throne  for 
each;  but  it  appeareth  that  the  thrones  were  promised 
on  conditions  of  overcoming,  Rev.  iii.21,  and  that  Judas 
forfeited  his  title  by  disobedience,  &c.  But  saith  one, 
"I  thought  Judas  was  raised  up  for  the  very  purpose  to 
betray  Christ,  and  was  always  a  wicked  man."  Answer. 
Many  people  think  so,  through  the  prejudice  of  educa- 
tion, and  set  up  their  opinion  for  the  standard,  and  at- 
tempt to  bend  the  scriptures  to  it,  but  that  will  not  do ; 
for  truth  will  stand  when  error  falls,  and  of  course  our 
tenets  should  correspond  with  the  bible,  Avhicli  doth  not 
say,  that  Judas  was  always  evil ;  but  Christ  conveys  an 
idea  to  the  reverse,  when  referring,  John  xiii.  18,  to 
Psalm  xli,  9,  v.'here  David  is  speaking  of  Judas,  as  in  the 
person  of  Christ,  and  saith,  "Mine  own  familiar  friend 
in  whom  I  trusted,  which  did  eat  of  my  bread,  hath  lifted 
up  his  heel  against  me."  Here  Judas  is  not  only  styled 
Christ's  friend,  but  his  familiar  one,  in  whom  he  trusted. 
Now,  can  we  suppose  with  propriety,  that  Christ  would 
be  familiar  with  the  deceitful,  and  put  confidence  in 
them?  No!  methinks  he  would  have  sot  a  better  ex- 
ample. 

Object.  Solomon  was  a  wise  man,  and  yet  di-d  many 
things  wrong ;  and  yet  wrote  Ecclesiastes  afterward, 
from  which  we  may  infer,  no  doubt  he  is  happy.  An- 
swer— Solomon  no  doubt  was  a  luise  man,  above  all  the 
kings  of  the  earth,  and  yet  became  the  greatest  fool  by 
abusing  his  wisdom;  for  after  that  God  had  done  so 
much  for  Solomon,  Solomon  turned  and  committed  sin; 
and  according  to  the  Mosaic  law,  was  worthy  of  tempo- 
ral death  infve  respects :  First,  he  made  an  ajiniti/  with 
Pharaoh,  king  of  Egypt — Secondly,  took  his  daughter  to 


172  ELECTION,    UiVIVERSALISM,  ETC. 

be  his  wife— Thirdly,  made  affiniUj  with  Hiram,  king  of 
Tyre — Fourthly,  fell  in  love  with  heathenish  women,  who 
turned  his  heart  from  God — Fifthly,  fell  into  idolatry. — 
He  had/ow7'  gods  that  he  worshipped  himself,  and  others 
for  his  ivives.  When  Solomon  was  young,  we  read  the 
Lord  loved  him ;  but  now  he  was  old,  we  read  the  Lord 
was  angry  with  him,  and  he  is  angry  with  the  uicked 
every  day.  The  Lord  endeavored  to  reclaim  Solomon 
— first,  by  mercy,  and  then  by  affliction  ;  and  raised  up 
three  adversaries  for  that  purpose — but  Solomon  would 
not  hear,  and  went  on  a  step  farther,  and  attempted  to 
kill  Jeroboam,  who  arose  and  fled  to  Egypt :  and  as  the 
scripture  leaves  Solomon,  he  died  in  that  state,  with 
murder  in  his  heart,  as  he  attempted  to  slay  the  innocent ; 
and  no  murderer  hath  eternal  life  abiding  in  him.^^  And 
there  is  no  account  of  Solomon's  repentance,  but  that  he 
died  in  his  sins ;  and  our  Lord  intimates,  that  if  we  die 
in  our  sin:5,  where  he  is,  we  cannot  come.  And  David's 
dying  words  to  Solomon  were,  "If  thou  seek  the  Lord, 
he  will  be  found  of  thee ;  but  if  thou  forsake  him,  he  will 
cast  thee  o^  forever."  Solomon  sought  the  Lord,  and 
the  Lord  appeared  to  him  twice ;  afterwards  he  forsook 
God,  and  there  is  no  account  of  his  return  as  before  ob- 
served ;  and  as  for  believing  Ecclesiastes  was  wrote  af- 
terwards, I  no  more  believe  Solomon  could  write  when 
he  was  dead,  than  I  believe  I  could ;  and  to  evade  this 
answer,  and  say  Solomon  wrote  it  when  he  was  old,  I 
reply,  it  is  no  more  than  any  old  man  that  swears  and 
gets  drunk  can  do,  to  cry  out  vanity  of  vanities,  &c., 
when  their  lives  are  burthensome:  but  what  makes  the 
beauty  of  Ecclesiastes  is,  to  see  that  a  young  man  could 
cry  out  vanity,  which  is  so  contrary  to  nature,  when  na- 
ture is  so  fond  of  it:  and  as  for  the  book  of  Proverbs, 
any  person  may  discover  they  were  wrote  before  the 


ELECTION,    UMVERSALISM,  ETC.  173 

building  of  the  temple,  by  turning  to  1  Kings  iv.  32,  &c., 
and  before  much  of  his  wickedness.  You  need  not  say, 
that  I  said,  that  Solomon  is  gone  to  liell :  I  did  not  af- 
firm so ;  but  I  take  Solomon  where  the  scripture  doth, 
and  leave  him  where  the  scripture  doth,  in  the  hand  of 
a  merciful  God.  Asking  why  the  bible  i"^  so  particular 
to  mention  all  the  good  conduct  of  Solomon,  and  then 
this  bad  conduct,  if  he  repented  why  was  not  that  put 
down?  Turn  to  the  history  of  Josephus,  and  it  leaves 
Solomon,  if  possible,  in  a  worse  situation  than  the  bible 
doth,  &c. 

Some  people  blame  me  for  holding  to  perftdion,  and 
at  the  same  time  they  hold  to  it  stronger  than  me ;  and 
moreover,  for  not  holding  to  the  final  perseverance  of  the 
saints ;  Avhich  assertion  1  think  is  wrong,  for  I  think 
there  is  danger  o^ falling  away — therefore  I  hold  \.o per- 
severance, (X/^  and  they  cannot  deny  it.  But  they  hold, 
a  man  cannot  get  rid  of  sin.  Here,  therefore,  tiiey  hold 
to  persevering  in  sin,  and  they  hold  to  a  falling  from 
grace  of  course,  (X/^  this  is  the  truth,  and  you  cannot 
deny  it.  Some  have  heard  ministers  pray  to  God,  that 
the  people  might  be  sanctified  from  all  sin  ;  and  then 
told  them  that  they  could  not  get  rid  of  all  sin — this  was 
a  clash. — People  frequently  feel  good  desires  from  God 
to  get  rid  of  "all  sin,"  James  i.  17,  and  yet  think  they 
cannot  obtain  the  blessing,  so  pray  in  unbelief  for  it. — 
We  read,  that  whatsoever  is  not  o^  faith  is  sin;  there- 
fore, if  I  hold  with  them,  I  should  pray  thus,  "Lord, save 
1^  me  from  part  of  my  sins  now,  and  at  death  take  them  all 
away,"  &c.  But  this  doth  not  correspond  with  the  Lord's 
prayer,  which  commandeth  us  to  pray  that  God's  l:ing- 
dom  may  come,  and  his  will  be  done,  &c.,  as  in  heaven ; 
and  we  delivered  from  evil. 

The  kingdom  of  God,  we  read,  is  not  meat  and  drink  ; 


174  ELECTION,    U.VIVEUSALTSJJ,  ETC. 

but  righteousness,  peace  and  joy,  in  the  Holy  Ghost. — 
And  Paul  saith,  tliis  is  the  will  of  God,  even  your  sanc- 
titication:  and  if  a  man  be  delivered  from  all  evil,  there 
is  no  sin  left.  And  what  is  the  benefit  to  pray  for  it,  if 
vre  cannot  have  it?  But  in  obedience  to  the  command- 
ment to  pray  for  deliverance  from  evil ;  Paul  besouo;ht 
God  to  sanctify  the  Thessalonians  wholly,  and  to  pre- 
serve their  whole  spirit,  soul  and  body  blameless  unto 
the  coming  of  Christ,  1  Thess.  v.  23 — and  again,  ver.  16 
to  16,  he  commandeth  them  to  rejoice  evermore,  pray 
witliout  ceasing,  in  every  thing  give  thanks,  for  this  is 
the  will  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus  concerning  you.  Matt 
V.  48,  Christ  saith,  be  ye  perfect,  even  as  your  Father 
which  is  in  heaven  is  perfect,  i.  e.  for  a  man  in  our  sphere, 
as  perfect  as  God  is  for  God  in  his  sphere.  Again,  be 
ye  holy,  for  I  am  holy.  Again,  the  commandment  is  to 
love  the  Lord  with  all  our  heart,  soul,  body,  mind,  and 
strength,  and  our  neighbor  as  ourself,  &.c.  And  blessed 
be  God,  the  promise  is  equal  to  the  commandments ;  for 
God  hath  bound  himself  by  a  promise,  Ezek.  xxxvi.  25, 
then  will  I  sprinkle  clean  wa.ter  upon  you,  and  ye  shall 
be  clean  ;  from  all  your  filthiness  and  from  all  your  idols 
will  1  cleanse  you,  a  new  heart  also  will  I  give  you,  &c. 
Again,  Psalm  cxxx.  8,  the  promise  is,  that  Israel  shall 
be  redeemed  from  her  iniquities:  John  viii.  12,  Christ 
saith,  he  that  followeth  me  shall  not  walk  in  darkness, 
but  shall  have  the  light  of  life.  And  again,  God  hath 
promised  by  the  hand  of  Moses,  thus.  "I  will  circumcise 
thy  heart,  and  the  heart  of  thy  seed,  to  love  the  Lord 
•with  all  tliv  heart,"  &c.,  and  thy  neighbor  as  thyself. — 
And  Paul  speaking  of  the  oath  and  promise  of  .God,  Lwo 
immutable  things,  in  which  it  is  impossible  for  God  to 
lie.  Now  if  God  cannot  lie,  then  he  cannot  do  all  things^ 
especially  that  which  is  contrary  to  his  nature:  if  so> 


ELECTION,    UNIVERSALISM,  ETC.  175 

Xhen   the  above  mentioned   promises  are  equal  to  the  . 
commandments,  and  God  is  bound  by  the  law  of  his  na- 
ture to  perform  the  same.     This  is  the  truth,  i^J^  and 
you  cannot  deny  it. 

Object.  David  saith,  "  There  is  none  ri2"hteous,  no, 
not  one."  Answer.  True,  yet  we  read  about  righteous 
Abel,  and  Lot's  righteous  soul,  (2  Pet.  ii.  8.  Malt,  xxiii. 
35.)  Object.  Solomon  saith,  "  there  is  no  man  that 
sinneth  not."  Answer.  True,  but  John  saith,  "he  that 
IS  born  of  God  doth  not  commit  sin."  Object.  Paul 
saith,  "I  am  carnal,  sold  under  sin ;"  yet  he  was  a  saint. 
Answer.  Paul  addeth  elsewhere.,  "that  the  carnal  mind 
is  enmity  against  God,  and  is  not  subject  to  his  law, 
neither  indeed  can  be,  and  to  be  carnally  minded  is 
death."  Again,  "  Christ  came  to  save  sinners,  &c.,  of 
whom  I  am  chief."  Now  to  take  these  expressions  to- 
gether just  as  they  stand,  you  might  prove  that  Paul  was 
one  of  the  worst  of  men,  in  the  way  to  death,  and  at  the 
same  time  one  of  the  best  ajwstles  in  the  way  to  life, 
&c.  Though  Paul  saith,  I  am  carnal,  sold  under  sin, 
yet  it  cannot  be  that  he  was  speaking  of  himself,  as  a 
holy  apostle  ;  but  was  describing  or  rehearsing  the  lan- 
guage of  one  under  the  law,  as  you  may  see,  Rom.  vii.  1. 
"I  speak  to  them  that  know  the  law,"  &:c.;  but  chap, 
viii.  1,  2,  Paul  saith,  "  there  is  therefore  now  no  condem- 
nation to  them  which  are  in  Christ  Jesus,  who  walk  not 
after  the  flesh,  but  after  the  Spirit,  for  the  law-  of  the 
spirit  of  life  in  Christ  Jesus  hath  made  me  free  from  the 
law  of  sin  and  death."  And  now,  if  Paul  was  made  free 
he  could  not  be  groaning  under  bondage  at  the  same 
time,  unless  you  can  reconcile  liberty  and  slavery  to- 
g-ether. Paul  Siiith  in  one  place,  "I robbed  other  church- 
es." Now  to  take  tiiis  passage  just  as  it  stands,  you 
miglit  prove  that  Paul  was  a  robber;  if  so,  would  not  the 


176  ELECTION,    U?fIVr:RSALISM,  ETC. 

government  hang  him  if  he  was  here,  as  they  hang  rob- 
bers, fee. 

And  to  take  any  particular  passage  you  may  prove  al- 
most any  doctrine,  if  it  be  not  taken  in  connexion  with 
the  context,  or  general  tenor  of  scripture.  .But  as  the 
bible  in  general  doth  not  plead  for  sin,  but  condemneth 
it,  commanding  us  to  be  holy  in  heart  and  life,  &c., 
therefore  we  should  not  plead  for  sin  as  though  we  lov- 
ed it,  and  rolled  it  under  our  tongue  as  a  sweet  morsel, 
but  should  be  scnpturians  or  bible  men ;  for  Paul  telleth 
the  Romans,  to  whom  some  think  Paul  made  allowance 
for  a  little  sin,  inferring  it  from  the  7th  chapter;  but,  by 
the  by,  they  should  remember  that  Paul  talketh  thus, 
"  being  justified  by  faith,  we  have  peace  with  God,  chap. 
V.  1.  vi.  18 — 22,  he  saith,  ''being  made  free  from  sin," 
&:c.,  and  being  now.made  free  from  sin,&c.  (i;^Wel}, 
says  one,  what  next?  Answer.  Any  person  by  reading 
the  epistles  of  John  may  find  a  sufficiency  of  proof  to 
convince  any  candid  mind  that  the  doctrine  of  Christian 
perfection  in  love,  is  a  bible  doctrine.  Query.  How  far 
can  a  man  be  perfect  in  this  life  2 

Answer.  A  man  may  be  a  perfect  sinner  by  the  help 
of  Satan,  C[j^  and  you  cannot  deny  it.  Now,  if  a  man 
can  be  a  perfect  sinner,  v,-hy  not  a  perfect  saint  ?  Shall 
we  not  allow  as  much  power  to  God  to  perfect  his  child- 
ren in  his  own  nature,  which  is  love,  as  the  devil  has 
power  to  perfect  his  in  sin,  &c.  ?  But  says  one,  answer 
the  former  question,  and  likewise,  who  ever  attained 
what  you  are  talking  about?  Very  well — I'll  tell  you; 
I  think  a  man  cannot  be  perfect  as  God,  except  it  be  for 
men  in  our  sphere,  as  God  is  for  God  in  his  sphere ;  for 
absolute  perfection  belongs  to  God  alone;  neither  as 
perfect  as  angels  or  even  Adam  before  befell,  because  I 
feel  the  effect  of  Adam's  fall ;  my  body  being  mortal  is 


ELECTION,    UNIVERSALISM,  ETC.  177 

a  clog  to  my  soul,  and  frequently  tends  to  weigh  down 
my  mind,  which  infirmity  1  do  not  expect  to  get  rid  of 
until  my  spirit  returns  to  God ;  yet  I  do  believe  that  it 
is  the  privilege  of  every  saint,  to  drink  in  the  spirit  or 
nature  of  God,  so  far  as  to  live  without  committing  wil- 
ful, or  known,  or  malicious  sins  against  God,  but  to  have 
love  the  ruling  principle  within  ;  and  what  we  say  and 
do,  to  flow  from  that  divine  principle  of  love  within,  from 
a  sense  of  duty,  though  subject  to  trials,  temptations  and 
mistakes  at  the  same  time  ;  and  a  mistake  in  judgment 
may  occasion  a  mistake  in  practice — I  may  think  a  man 
more  pious  than  he  is,  and  put  too  much  confidence  in 
him,  and  thereby  be  brought  into  trouble.  Now  such  a 
mistake  as  this,  and  many  other  similar  ones  I  might 
mention,  you  cannot  term  sin  with  propriety  ;  for  when 
Eldad  and  Medad  prophesied  in  the  camp,  Joshua  mis- 
taking in  his  judgment,  thinking  they  did  wrong,  occa- 
sioned a  practical  mistake,  requesting  Moses  to  stop 
them,  &c.,  which  was  not  granted.  Observe,  one  sin 
shut  Moses  out  of  Canaan,  of  course  one  sin  must  have 
shut  Joshua  out :  but  as  God  said,  "Joshua  wholly  fol- 
lowed him,"  and  ivholly  not  being  partly^  and  as  he  en- 
tered Canaan,  from  that  circumstance,  I  argue  that  a 
mistake  following  from  love  is  not  imputed  as  a  sin. — 
Again,  as  we  are  informed,  that  Christ  was  tempted  in 
all  respects  like  as  we  are,  Heb.  iv.  ]5,  yet  without  sin, 
and  can  be  touched  with  the  feeling  of  onr  injirimties,  «&:c. 
Again,  as  we  are  commanded,  James  i.  2,  to  count  it  all 
joy  Avhen  we  fall  (not  give  way)  into  divers  temptations. 
And  if  the  devil,  or  wicked- men,  tempt  me,  and  I  reject 
and  repel  the  temptation  with  all  my  heart,  how  can  it 
be  sa.id  that  I  sin  ?  Am  I  to  blame  for  the  devil's  con- 
duct ?    I  can  no  more  prevent  my  thoughts  than  I  can 


178  ELECTION,    UMVERSALISM,  EIC. 

prevent  the  birds  from  flying  over  my  head  ;  but  I  can 
prevent  them  from  making  nests  in  my  hair. 

Some  people  expect  purgatory  to  deliver  them  from 
Bin  ;  but  this  would,  methinks,  make  discord  in  heaven. 
Others  think  that  death  will  do  it.  If  death  will  deliver 
one  from  the  last  of  sin,  why  not  two^  why  not  all  the 
world  by  the  same  rule  ?  So  Universalism  will  be  trite, 
and  death  have  the  praise,  and  Jesus  Christ  be  out  of 
the  question  I  But  death  is  not  called  a  friend,  but  is 
styled  an  enemy,  and  it  does  not  change  the  disposition  of 
the  mind.  All  that  death  does  is  to  separate  the  soul 
from  the  body,  therefore,  as  we  must  get  rid  of  the  last 
of  sin,  either  here  or  hereafter,  and  as  but  few  in  x\mer- 
ica  allow  of  purgatory,  I  suppose  it  must  be  here.  If 
60,  then  it  is  before  the  soul  leaves  the  body,  conse- 
quently it  is  in  ti77ie,  of  course  before  death.  Now  the 
query  arises,  how  long  first  ?  Why,  says  one,  perhaps 
a  minute  before  the  soul  leaves  the  body.  Well,  if  a 
minute  before,  why  not  two  minutes,  or  an  hour ;  yea,  a 
day,  a  week,  a  month,  or  a  year,  or  even  ten  years  be- 
fore death — or  even  now  ^  Is  there  not  power  sufficient 
with  God,  or  efficacy  enough  in  the  blood  of  Christ? — 
Certainly  the  scripture  saith,  all  things  are  now  ready  ; 
now  is  the  accepted  time,  and  behold  now  (not  to-mor- 
row) is  the  day  of  salvation.  To-day  if  you  will  hear  his 
voice.  Remember  now  thy  Creator  in  the  days,  &.c., 
and  there  being  no  encouragement  in  the  bible  for  to- 
morrow, now  is  God's  time,  (J^^  and  you  cannct  deny 
it,  &c.  Observe  examples — by  faith  Enoch  walked  with 
God  (not  with  sin)  three  hundred  years,  and  had  the  tes- 
timony that  he  pleased  God — Gen.  v.  22.  Heb.  xi.5. — 
Caleb  and  Joshua  wholly  (not  partly)  followed  the  Lord, 
Numbers  xxxii.  1],  n.  Job  likev.-ise,  God  said  was  a 
perfect  man,  and  you  must  not  contradict  him ;  and 


ELECTION,    UNIVERSALISM,  ETC.  179 

though  Satan  had  as  much  power  to  kill  Job's  wife,  as  to 
destroy  the  other  things,  as  all  except  Job's  life  was  in 
his  hands,  but  he  thought  he  would  spare  her  for  an  in- 
strument, or  a  torture — Job  i.  12— 22,  and  ii.  9, 10.  Da- 
vid was  a  man  after  God's  own  heart,  when  feeding  his 
father's  sheep,  not  when  he  was  committing  adultery — 
1  Sam.  xiii.  14,  and  xvi.  7 — 11.  2  Sam.  xii.  13.  Zacha- 
riah  and  Elizabeth  were  both  righteous  before  God, 
walking  in  all  the  commandments,  &c.  blameless — Luke 
i.  5,  6.  Nathaniel  was  an  Israelite  indeed,  in  whom 
there  was  no  guile,  &c. — John  i.  47.  John  speaking  of 
himself,  and  those  to  whom  he  wrote,  "herein  is  our  love 
made  perfect,  and  perfect  love  casteth  out  fear."  1  John 
IV.  17,  18.  Again,  of  the  seven  churches  of  Asia,  five 
had  some  reproof,  but  two  had  no  reproof  at  all ;  Smyr- 
na and  Philadelphia,  why  not  if  they  had  a  little  sin : 
the  latter  was  mg-/?/?/ commended,  Rev.  ii.  8,  9,  andiii.  7^ 
and  so  on,  &c. 

Query — Must  we  not  get  rid  of  all  sin  before  we  go 
to  glory  ?  Do  not  we  feel  desirous  for  it  ?  Did  not  God 
give  us  those  desires  ?  Does  not  he  command  us  to  pray 
for  it  .^  Should  we  not  look  in  expectation  of  receiving? 
God  help  thee,  without  prejudice  to  consider  the  above 
impartially,  as  a  sincere  inquirer  after  truth,  let  it  come 
from  whom  it  may,  intending  to  improve  conscientiously, 

as  for  eternity.     Amen Says  one,  do  you  think  a 

man  can  know  his  sins  forgiven  in  this  life,  and  have  the 
evidence  of  his  acceptance  v/ith  God?  Answer— We 
are  informed,  that  Abel  had  the  witness  that  he  was 
righteous — Gen.  iv.  4.  Heb.  xi.  4.  Enoch  had  the  tes- 
timony, V.  5.  Job  said,  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liv- 
eth,  and  though  he  slay  me  yet  will  I  trust  in  him — Job 
xix.  25.  David  said,  "come  unto  me  all  ye  that  fear  the 
Lord,  and  I  will  tell  you  what  he  hath  done  for  my  soul.'* 


180  ELECTION,    UNIVERSALISM,    ETC. 

"  As  far  as  the  east  is  from  the  west,  so  far  hath  the  Lord 
separated  our  sins  from  us."  Psalm  Ixvi.  IG.  Peter 
said,  John  21,  "  Lord,  thou  knowest  that  I  love  thee." — 
John  saith,  "  he  that  believeth  on  the  Son  of  God  hath 
the  witness  in  himself."  1  John  v.  10,  and  Matt.  i.  25. 
Jesus  shall  save  his  people  (not  in,  but)  from  their  sins. 
Again,  John  iii.  8,  the  wind  bloweth  where  it  listeth, 
thou  hearest  the  sound  thereof,  &c ,  so  is  every  one  that 
is  born  of  the  spirit.  The  wind,  though  we  do  not  see 
it,  we  feel  and  hear  it,  and  see  the  effects  it  produces ; 
it  waves  the  grass,  &;c.  So  the  Spirit  of  God — we  feel 
it,  it  gives  serious  impressions,  and  good  desires  within 
our  breast  for  religion.  Again,  we  hear  it,  an  inward 
voice  telling  what  is  right  and  what  is  wTong:  and  the 
more  attention  one  gives  to  the  inward  monitor,  the  more 
distinctly  they  will  hear  the  sound,  till  at  length  it  will 
become  their  teacher.  Again,  we  may  see  the  effect  it 
produces — some  that  have  been  proud  and  profligate, 
get  reformed  and  become  examples  of  piety ;  which 
change' money  could  not  have  produced,  &c.  Says  one, 
I  will  acknowledge  the  ancients  could  talk  of  the  know- 
ledge, but  inspiration  is  now  done  aAA^ay  ;  therefore,  it  is 
nonsense  to  expect  any  such  thing  in  this  our  day.  An- 
swer— We  read,  Jeremiah  xxxi.  33,  34,  of  a  time  when 
all  shall  know  the  Lord  from  the  least  to  the  greatest 
Now,  if  there  hath  been  a  tim.e  past,  when  people  have 
known  God,  and  a  time  to  come  when  all  shall  know 
him,  which  time  is  not  yet  arrived,  Isa.  xi.9,  Heb.  ii.  14, 
why  may  not  people  know  him  in  this  our  day  ?  Nature 
has  not  changed,  nor  God  ;  and  if  matter  still  can  ope- 
rate on  matter,  why  not  spirit  upon  spirit  ?  Some  peo- 
ple are  so  much  like  fools,  that  they  think  they  are  not 
bound  in  reason  to  believe  any  thing  except  they  can 
comprehend  it.    This  idea  centres  right  in  Atheism; 


ELECTION,    UNIVERSALISM,  ETC.  181 

for  the  thing  which  comprehends,  is  always  greater  than 
the  thing  comprehended  :  Therefore,  if  we  could  com- 
prehend God,  we  should  be  greater  than  he,  and  of 
course  look  down  upon  him  with  contempt:  but  because 
we  cannot  comprehend  him,  then  according  to  the  above 
ideas  we  must  disbelieve  and  reject  the  idea  of  a  God. 
The  man  who  so  acts,  supposes  himself  to  be  the  great- 
est, he  comprehending  all  other  men  or  things,  and  of 
course  he  is  God  ;  and  many  such  a  god  there  is,  full  of 
conceit.  Observe,  I  can  know  different  objects  by  the 
sensitive  organs  of  the  eye,  ear,  &,c„  and  tell  whether 
they  are  animate  or  inanimate  ;  and  yet  how  my  think- 
ing power  gets  the  idea,  or  comprehends  the  same 
through  the  medium  of  matter,  is  a  thing  I  cannot  com- 
prehend ;  yet  it  being  such  a  self-evident  matter  of  fact, 
I  must  assent  to  the  idea,  &c.  But  says  one,  who  knows 
these  things  in  this  our  day  ?  Answer — The  Ckiirch  of 
England  prayeth  to  have  the  tJionghts  of  their  hearts 
cleansed  by  the  inspiration  of  God's  Holy  Spirit ;  and 
with  the  Church  of  Rome,  acknowlcdgeth  what  is  called 
the  Apostle's  creed  ;  a  part  of  which  runneth  thus:  "I 
believe  in  the  communion  of  saints,  and  in  the  forgive- 
ness of  sins."  Again,  the  above  ideas  are  in  the  Pres- 
byterian Catechism,  which  saith,  "  that  the  assurance  of 
God's  love,  peace  of  conscience,  and  joy  in  the  Holy 
Ghost,  doth  accompany  or  flow  from  justification,  adop- 
tion, and  sanctification  in  this  life,"  (not  in  the  life  to 
come.) 

Agreeably  to  the  above,  the  Baptists,  when  going  to 
the  water,  tell  how  this  assurance  was  communicated  to 
their  souls,  and  when,  &c.  The  Quakers  likewise  ac- 
knowledge that  the  true  worship  is  in  spirit,  (not  in  the 
outward  letter,)  and  in  truth,  (not  in  error) ;  and  many 
other  proofs  might  be  brought,  but  let  one  more  suffice, 


18'2  V1E\VS    OF    MATRIMONY. 

and  tiiat  is  in  your  own  breast.  You  feel  the  witness 
and  reproof  sometimes  for  doing  wrong;  now  why  may 
we  not  on  the  principles  of  reason,  admit  the  idea  of  a 
■witness  within,  likewise  of  doing  right ;  also  of  pardon 
from  God  through  Christ,  and  acceptance?  And  now  I 
have  as  good  a  right  to  dispute  whether  there  were  any 
such  land  as  Canaan,  as  you  liave  to  dispute  revealed  re- 
ligion ;  for  if  I  credit  it,  it  is  by  human  information,  and 
you  have  as  strong  proof  about  revealed  religion.  And 
such  proof  as  this  in  other  affairs,  in  common  courts  of 
equity,  would  be  allowed,  (^^  and  you  cannot  deny  it. 


THE  PREACHER'S  VIEWS  OF  MATRir^IONY, 
ABRIDGED. 


"Marriage  is  honorable  in  all,  and  the  bed  iindenlod. 
But  whoremongers  and  adulterers  God  will  judge." — 
Heb.  xiii.  4. 

Various  are  the  opinions  v.-ith  regard  to  the  subject 
before  us.  Some  people  tell  us  it  is  not  laivful  for  men 
and  women  to  marry:  and  argue  thus  to  prove  it:  "It 
is  living  after  the  fiesh;  they  that  live  after  the  flesh 
shall  die,  (by  which  is  meant  separation  from  God,)  there- 
fore they  who  live  together  as  J}usban  i  and  icifr  shall 
die."  Now  the  previiscs  being  wrong,  \\ieconcliioion  is 
•ivrong  of  necessity  ;  for  living  together  as  hiishand  and 
v?}ft  is  not  living  after  the  flesh,  but  after  God's  ordi- 


Views  of  Matrimonv.  183 

nance:  -as  is  evident  from  Matt,  xix, 4,  5,  6, — ^''  And  he 
answered,  and  said  unto  them,  have  ye  not  rend,  that  he 
which  made  them,  at  the  hes^nning,  made  them  male  and  fe- 
male, and  said,  for  this  cause  shall  a  man  leave  father  and 
mother,  and  shall  cleave  to  his  unfe  ;  and  they  twain  shall 
be  onefesh'?  Wherefore,  they  are  no  more  twain,  but  one 
flesh.  If  hat  tlierefore  God  hath  joined  together,  let  no  man 
put  asunder.''^  In  these  words  Christ,  our  great  law- 
giver, refers  toGen.  ii.  24;  which  at  once  proves,  that 
the  PARADISICAL  institiUion  is  not  abrogated.  From  the 
beginning  of  the  world  until  the  words  of  the  text  were 
written,  people  lived  together  as  husband  and  ivife,  and 
had  divine  approbation  in  so  doing;  as  is  easily  proved 
from  the  v/ord  of  Goi>.  Som£  people  have  an  idea  we 
CANXOT  be  as  holy  in  a  mcirried  as  in  a  single  state.  But 
hark  !  Enoch  icalked  tvith  God  after  he  begat  ?,'Iethuselah, 
three  hundred  years,  and  begat  sons  and  daughters.  Gen. 
V.  22.  Heb,  xi.  5.  Now  if  Enoch  under  that  dark  dis- 
pensation could  serve  God  in  a  married  state,  and  be  fit 
for  translation  from  earth  to  heaven,  why  not  another 
person  be  equally  pious,dLnA  be  filled  with  "righteous- 
ness, and  peace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost"  under  the 
gospel  dispensation  ?  according  to  Rom.  xiv.  17.  But 
admitting  it  is  right  for  common  people  to  marry,  is  it 
right  for  the  ceergy  to  man'-y  ?  Answer — I  know  that 
too  many  think  it  is  not,  and  are  ready  to  conclude  that 
whenever  "  a  preacher  mam-ies,  lie  is  backslidden  from 
God  ;"  hence  the  many  arguments  made  use  of  by  some 
to  prevent  it.  When  I  hear  persons  who  are  married 
trying  to  dissuade  others  from  marrying,  I  infer  one  of 
two  things  :  that  they  are  either  unhappy  in  their  mar- 
riuge,  else  they  enjoy  a  blessing  which  they  do  not  wish 
others  to  partake  of.  The  Church  of  Rome  have  an 
idea  that  the  Pope  is  St.  Peter's  successor,  and  that  the 


184  VIEWS    OF    MATRIMONY. 

CLERGY  ought  not  to  marr.f.  But  I  would  ask  if  it  waa 
lawful  for  St.  Peter  to  have  a  tvife,  why  not  lawful  for 
another  priest  or  preacher  to  have  one  t^  But  have 
we  any  proof  that  Peter  had  a  wife')  In  Matt.  viii.  14, 
we  read  as  follows:  "And  when  Jesus  was  come  into 
Peter^s  house,  he  saw /its  wife^s  mother  laid,  and  sick  of 
a  fever."  Now  how  could  Peter's  ivife's  mother  be  sick 
of  a  fever,  provided  he  had  no  wife  ?  and  as  we  have 
NO  account  that  Christ  parted  Peter  and  his  ivife,  I  in- 
fer that  he  lived  with  her  after  his  call  to  the  aposileship  ; 
accordinnf  to  Rom.  vii.  2,  for  "  the  woman  who  hath  an 
husband  is  bound  by  the  law  to  her  husband  so  long  as 
he  liveth  ;"  now  if  Peter's  wife  was  "  bound"  to  him,  how 
could  he  go  off  and  leave  her,  as  some  people  think  he 
did  ?  The  words  of  the  text  saith,  "  marriage  is  honor- 
able in  all."  But  how  could  it  be  honorable  in  all,  if  it 
were  dislwnorable  in  the  priesily  order  ?  For  they  form  a 
part,  of  course  are  included  in  the  word  A  double  L. — 
In  the  first  epistle  written  by  St.  Paul  to  Timothy,  iv. 
we  read  thus  :  "Now  the  spirit  speaketh  expressly,  that 
in  the  latter  times  some  shall  depart  from  the  faith,  giv- 
ing heed  to  seducing  spirits  and  docinnes  of  devils ; 
speaking  lies  in  hypocrisy;  having  their  conscience 
seared  with  a  hot  iron  ;  forbidding  to  marry  and  com- 
manding to  abstain  from  meats,  which  God  hath  created 
to  be  received  with  thanksgiving  of  them  which  believe 
and  know  the  truth."  Observe,  forbidding  to  mari-y  is  a 
doctrine  of  devils,  therefore  not  of  divine  origin  ;  of 
course  not  to  be  obeyed,  for  \vq  are  under  no  obligation 
to  obey  the  devils  ;  but  in  opposition  to  them,  to  enjoy 
all  the  benefits  of  divine  institutions.  Marriage  is  a  di- 
vine institution,  therefore  the  benefits  of  matrimony  may 
be  enjoyed  by  them  that  believe  and  knoiv  the  truth. — 
Having  briefly,  but  fully  shov/n  that  matrimony  is  law- 


VIEWS    OF    MATRIMONY.  18d 

fjl,  T  shall  proceed  to  elucidate  the  words  of  the  text.  In 
doing  which  I  shall  shew 

First,  What  is  matrimony* 

Secondly,  Point  out  some  of  the  causes  of  unhappy 
mairiages,  and  conclude  v.-ith  a  few  ivords  of  advice. 

First,  What  matrimony  is. 

Some  people  believe  in  a  decree,  (commonly  called  a 
lottery)  viz.  That  God  has  determined  in  all  cases,  that 
particular  men  and  women  sliould  ue  married  to  each 
other;  and  that  it  is  iinpossible  they  should  marry  any 
other  person. — Br.t  T  say  hush  I  for  if  that  be  the  case, 
then  God  appoints  all  matches:  but  I  believe  the  devil 
appoints  a  great  many;  for  if  God  did  it,  then  it  would 
be  done  in  v.isdom,  and  of  course  it  would  be  done  right ; 
if  so,  there  would  not  be  so  many  unhv.ppy  marriages  in 
the  world  as  what  there  are.  If  one  man  steals  or  runs 
away  with  another  man's  wife,  goes  into  a  strange  coun* 
try  and  there  marries  her,  did  God  d'ecr-ee  that?  What 
made  God  Almighty  so  angry  with  the  Jews  for  marry- 
ing into  h-eaf  hen  families ;  and  why  did  the 'prophet  Ne- 
hemiah  contend  with  them,  curse  them,  pluck  off  their 
hair,  and  make  them  swear  that  they  would  not  give 
their  daughters  to  the  Amonites,  &c.,  as  y:e  read  in  the 
xiiith  chapter  of  Nehemiah,  if  he  appointed  such  match- 
es ?  Again,  Avhy  did  John  the  Baptist  exclaim  so  heav* 
ily  against  Herod,  for  having  his  hroUier  Philip's  wife  ? 
If  it  was  necessary,  he  could  not  help  it ;  therefore  John 
talked  very  foolishly  when  he  said  it  was  not  lawful,  for 
that  was  to  say  it  was  not  lawful  to  do  what  God  had 
decreed  should  be  done.  Notwithstanding  I  do  not  be- 
lieve in  lottery,  (so  called)  yet  I  believe  that  persons 
who  are  under  the  influence  oT  divine  grace,  may  have  a 
guide  to  direct  them  to  a  person  suitable  to  make  them 
a  companion,  with  whom  they  may  live  agreeable:  but 
12 


186  VIEWS    OF    MATROfONr. 

this  can  only  be  done  by  havinir-  pure  inhniions,  P^yi^g' 
particular  attention  to  the  influence  of  the  Divine  Spirit 
■vriTKi>",  and  the  opening  of  Providence  avithout;  be- 
ing carefnl  not  to  run  so  fast  as  to  outrnn  yom*  guide^ 
Dor  yet  to  move  so  slow  as  to  lose  sight  thereof. 

But  to  return— Marria;;^e  consists  in  agreenient  of  par^ 
ties,  in  union  of  heart,  and  in  a  promise  of  fidelity  to  each 
other  before  God  ;  "forasmuch  as  he  lookelh  at  the  hearL 
and  jud^eth  accord  jng  to  intention.^'' — 1  Sam.  xvi.  7.  As 
there  is  such  a  thing  as  for  persons  viorally  to  commii 
adultery  in  the  sight  of  God,  who  never  actually  did  so, 
Matt.  V.  28,  so  persons  may  be  married  in  his  sight,  who 
never  bad  the  formal  ceremony  performed.  Observe, 
nuuriage  is  a  divine  institution ;  was  cn'dained  by  God  in 
the  time  of  man's  innocency,  and  sanctioned  by  Jesus 
Christ  under  the^o.?^e/;  he  graced  a  maniage  feast  in 
Cana  of  Galilee,  where  he  turned  water  into  v/ine,  John 
ii.  1.  Nov.-  that  marriage  co^isis  not  barely  in  tlie  out^ 
ward  ceremony  is  evident ;  for  this  may  be  performed  on 
two  persons  of  either  sex,  and  yet  no  marriage.  Yet  it 
is  necessary  to  attend  to  the  laivs  of  our  country,  and 
have  a  formal  ceremony  performed,  ^^^  which  is  the 
EVIDENCE  OF  MATRIMONY ! !  For  we  are  com- 
manded to  "be  subject  to  every  ordinance  of  man,  for  the 
Lord's  50/^6,"  1  Peter  ii.  13.  St.  Paul  saith — "  Let  every 
soul  be  subject  unto  the  higher  powers,  for  there  is"  no 
power  but  of  God;  the  powers  that  be,  are  ordained  by 
God.  Whosoever,  therefore,  resisteth  the  power,  resist- 
eth  the  ordinance  of  God :  and  they  that  resist  shall  re- 
ceive to  them.selves  damnation,"  Rom.  xiii.  1,  2.  More- 
over without  this  outward  evidence  it  cannot  be  known 
who  are  married  and  who  are  isot;  so  that  men  could 
leave  their  wives  and  children  to  suffer;  deny  they  ever, 
engaged  to  live  with  such  women,  and  having  no  proof 


VIEWS    OF    MATRIMONY.  187 

thereof,  they  could  not  be  cmr.pelhd  by  any  law  to  pro- 
vide for  such  icomzn  and  children.  Once  more,  unless 
the  law  is  complied  with,  the  v/oman  cannot  be  consider- 
ed as  his  lawful  ivifs,  (for  what  malies  her  his  lavfnl 
■wife  is  compliance  with  the  law.)  of  course  the  children 
are  not  lawful ;  then  it  follows  they  are  adulterers  and 
adulteresses ;  else  fornicators  and  fornicatresses ;  their 
children  are  illefritimate ;  and  after  the  death  of  the  man, 
the  ^t'ornan  and  children  cannot  heir  his  estate  if  he  dies 
without  a  WILL. 

Question.  If  two  persons  contract  for  mahrtags, 
and  have  pledged  tlieir  fidelity  to  each  other  before 
God,  are  they  jmtifiahle  in  BREAKING  that  MAiiRi.'vaE 
contract  ? 

Answer.  If  one  has  acted  the  part  of  an  iapostoVf 
told  lies,  and  deceived  the  other,  this  is  not  marriage, 
but  an  imposition;  of  course  the  person  so  imposed  on 
is  JUSTIFIABLE  in  REJECTING  such  DECEIVER  !— 
But  if  they  both  make  statements  in  trutr,  are  acquaint- 
ed v,'ith  each  other's  character,  dispositions,  practices 
and  principles,  and  then,  being  in  possession  of  such  in- 
formaiion.  vountarily  engage  bi^fore  God  -Fo  live  to- 
gethxr  as  man  and  wife,  unles?  sorasthing  wicked,  more 
than  was  or  could  be  reasonMy  expected,  transpires  rel- 
ative to  one  or  the  other  of  the  tv/o  persons  so  engaged  ; 
(rx='  the  PERSON  who  breaks  such  contract  CAN- 
NOT be  justifiable  before  GOD  ! ! !  For  I  think  I  have 
clearly  proved  suc'i  contract  to  be  marriage  in  his  sight; 
and  Christ  sait'i  "  whosoever  shall  put  away  his  v/ife 
except  it  be  for  fornication,  and  shall  marry  another, 
committeth  adultery ;  and  whoso  marrieth  her  v/hich  is 
pat  away  ('for  fornication,')  doth  commit  adultery," 
iMatt.  xix.  9.  From  this  passage  it  is  evident  that  for 
the  cause  cf  fornication,  a  man  may  put  away  his  wife, 


188  *  VIEWS    OF    MATRIMONY. 

marry  a.riother,  and  yet  be  justifiable  in  the  eye  of  ths 
divine  law.  Moreover,  if  a  man  puts  away  his  wife  for 
any  other  cause  save  fornication,  &.C.,  and  utterly  re- 
fuseth  to  live  with  her,  she  is  at  liberty  to  marry,  but  he 
is  not.  This  T  think  is  what  St.  Paul  meaneth  in  1  Cor. 
vii.  15.  "But  if  the  unbelieving  depart  let  him  depart; 
a  brother  or  sister  is  not  under  bondage  in  such  cases," 
i.  e.  they  are  free  from  the  law,  for  that  is  what  they 
•were  bound  by;  of  course  at  liberty  to  marry  again,  for 
the  .innocent  are  not  to  suffer  for  the  guilty.  Admitting 
the  above  to  be  correct,  hoAv  many  such  adulterers  and 
adultresses  are  there  in  the  world  ? — And  what  a  dread- 
ful account  will  thousands  have  to  give  in  the  day  of 
eternity,  for  the  vioJation- o^  their  most  sacred  promises  ! 
But  one  is  ready  to  say,  I  was  not  sincere  -when  I  made 
those  promises.  Then  you  dissembled  to  deceive,  and 
TOLD  LIES  to  ensnare  the  innocent;  like  the  devil 
when  he  tra^isforms  himself  into  an  angel  of  light,  and 
the  greater  shall  be  your  damnation.  "For  all  liars 
shall  have  their  portion  in  the  lake  that  burns  with  nre 
and  brimstone,"  Re^,-.  xxi.  8.  Many  men  will  work  an 
hundred  schemes  and  tell  ten  thousand  lies  to  effect  the 
most  devilish  purposes,  a^d  after  their  ends  are  answer- 
ed, turn  with  disdain  from  the  person  deceived  by  them, 
and  make  themselves  merry  to  think  how  they  swept  the 
pit  of  hell  to  accomplish  their  design.  ''But  ivlioremon- 
g-er*  and  adulterers  God  will  judge.;"  which  brings  me 
to  the  last  thing  proposed.     In  which  I  am, 

Secondly,  To  point  out  some  of  the  causes  of  unhap- 
py marriages. 

Here  I  would  observe,  that  divine  wisdom  hath  or- 
dained marriage  for  several  important  ends.     1st.  For 
the   mutual   happiness   of  the   sexes   in  their  journey 
•  through  life,  and  as  a  comffort  and  support  to  each  other. 


VIEWS    OF    3IATRIM0>T.  189 

2il.  That  souls  may  be  propagated  agreeably  to  tlie  di- 
vine will,  capable  of  glorifying'  and  enjoying  him  forev- 
er. 3d.  As  the  man  without  the  woman  or  the  woman 
without  the  man,  is  not  in  a  capacity  to  provide  for  a 
family,  divine  wisdom  hath  wisely  ordained  their  mutual 
aid,  in  providing  for,  instructing,  and  protecting  off- 
spring, as  guardian  angels  avIio  m.ustgive  account.  Be- 
side the  reason  assigned  by  St.  Paul,  1  Cor.  vii.  But  to 
return,  I  v/ould  observe,  1st.  Too  many  marry  from  lu- 
crative views  ;  their  ohjed  is  not  to  get  a  suitable  com- 
panion who  will  sweeten  all  the  ills  of  life,  but  to  get  a 
large  fortune,  so  that  their  time  may  be  spent  in  idleness 
and  luxury  ;  that  they  may  make  a  grand  appearance  in 
the  world  ;  supposing  that  property  will  make  ihem  hon- 
orable. This  being  the  leading  motive  they  -direct  their 
attention  to  an  object,  which,  if  it  were  not  for  property, 
would  perhaps  be  looked  upon  by  them  with  contempt, 
and  profess  the  greatest  regard  for  the  person  while  the 
property  is  the  object  of  their  afff.ctions.  Perhaps  the 
person  is  old  ;  the  ideas  are — "This  old  man  or  woman 
cannot  live  long;  then  all  will  be  mine,  and  I  shall  be 
in  such  circumstances  that  I  can  marry  to  great  advan- 
tage ;"  forgetting  there  are  other  people  in  the  world 
just  of  their  own  opinion  I  The  contract  is  made,  the 
sham  marriage  is  periormed,  there  is  a  unioiiof /tnjirfbut 
NOT  of  heart :  in  consequence  of  which  they  are  not  tiap- 
py  together.  The  deceived,  on  finding  out  the  decep- 
tion, wishes  a  reversion  in  vain,  which  the  other  must 
sensibly  feel ;  for  sin  hath  its  own  punishment  entailed 
to  it ;  therefore  the  curse  of  God  follows  such  impure  in- 
tentions, I  appeal  to  those  who  have  married  from  these 
incentives  whether  these  things  are  not  so!  ^d.  Some 
people  take  fancy  for  love  ;  they  behold  a  person  whom 
they  wouid  almost  take  to  be  an  angel  in  human  shape. 


]90  V2EWS    OF    MATRIMOA'T. 

(but  all  is  not  gold  that  glitters,)  through  the  medium  of 
the  eye  become  enamoured ;  and  rest  not  until  the  ob- 
ject of  their/(X7ie3/  is  won.     Beauty  being  but  skin  deep, 
sickness  or  age  soon  makes  the  rose  to  ivWicr ;  they  are 
then  as  much  disappointed  as  the  miser  who  iJiought  he 
had  ten  thousand  guineas  all  in  gold,  but  after  counl.ing 
them  over  every  day  for  twelve  montiis,  {he  gilt  wore  oiT, 
by  -which  means  he  discovered  his  gold  was  only  tai'- 
nished  copper ;  of  course  it  lost  its  value  in  his  tsiiina- 
iion.     So  when  beauty  fades,  the  foundation  of  rta|>pi- 
ness  being  gone,  and  seeing  nothing  attracting  to  re- 
main, it  is  NOT  uncommon  for  an  object  more  beautiful 
to  be  sought.     3d.  There  is  such  a  thing  as  for  persons 
to  marry  for  love,  and  yet  be  unhappy!     Did  I  say- 
marry  for  lov&  ?     Yes — but  not  iheii'  own  love ;  only  the 
love  of  then-  parents  or  friends.     For  instance,  two  per- 
sons o[  suitable  age,  character,  dispositions,  &c.,  form  at- 
tachments of  the  strongest  nature,  are  actuated  by  pure 
■moiives,  are  UNITED  in  HEART,  and  enter  into  the 
most  solemn  engagements  to  live  together  during  life  ; 
the  PAHENTS  being  asked,  utterly  refuse  to  give  their 
daughter,  without  any  sufncient  reason  for  such  a  refu- 
sal.   In  the  next  place,  they  strive  to  break  the  marriage 
contract,  as  made  by  the  two  young  people.     Perhaps 
the  man  has  not  propertu  enough  to  please  them,  for 
WORTH  is  generally  (though  improperly)  estimated  by 
the  quantity  of  property  a  person  possesses ;  instead  of 
his  character,  his  principles,  his  practices,  &.c.    In  ordef 
to  effect  their  wishes,  every  measure  they  can  invent  is 
pushed  into  operation,  (and  it  is  frequently  the  case  that 
family  connexions,  and  even  strangers  interfere,  who- 
have  no  business  so  to  do  ;  but  fools  ivill  be  meddling) 
to  change  the  woman's  mind,  and  make  had  impressions 
on  the  same  with  respect  to  the  object  of  her  ajjtctions; 


I^'IEWS    OF    MATRIMONY.  191 

they  strive  by  placing  Iheir  diabolical  optic  to  her  eye, 
to  make  her  view  every  thing'  in  \he  ivorst  light  they  pos- 
eibly  can ;  promise  great  things  if  she  will  break  it  off: 
^'all  these  things  will  I  give  thee,  if  thou  wilt  fall  dov/n 
and  worship  me,"  (said  the  devil  once^)  threaten  to  place 
the  BLACK  SEAL  of  /-e/jroiftnoii  upon  her  if  SHEya//?/5  her 
engagements.  flere  the  mind  becovies  as  a  "  troubled 
sea  which  cannot  rest ;"  SHE  is  at  a  loss  to  know  what 
■is  duty — SHE  loves  her  parents,  also  the  man  to  whom 
her  Uart  has  been  UNITED— her  AFFECTIONS  are 
placed,  her  HONOR  is  pledged — she  spends  restless 
nights  and  mournful  days  to  know  how  to  decide! — 
CRITICAL  but  IMPORTANT  period  HI  HER  pre- 
sent, and  perhaps  ETERNAL  peace  depends  upon  the 
decision !  After  many  struggles  with  her  own  con- 
science, at  length  through  powerful  plersuasion  she 
yields  to  ihe  wisiies  of  others — betrays  her  tritsf,  breaks 
iier  marriage  contract,  deserts  her  best  friend,  and  pierces 
^herself  through  with  many  sorrows.  Dees  this  decision 
give  peace  of  mind  ?  By  no  means  I  She  is  pained  at 
the  very  heart,  and  flies  to  some  secret  place  to  give 
<\'ent  to  the  sorrow  she  feels.  Follow  her  to  the  lonely 
apartment — behold  her  there  as  pale  as  death — her 
■cheeks  bedewed  with  tears  !  What  mean  those  heart- 
breaking sighs?  What  mean  tliose  floods  of  briny  tears 
poured  forth  so  free,  as  if  without  consent  ?  'She  was 
torn  from  the  object  of  all  her  earthly  jay  !  The  ways  of 
«God  "  are  pleasantness,  and  al!  his  paths  are  peace,"  but 
.she  finds  nothing  save  sorrow  in  the  way  and  path  which 
fihe  has  taken — therefore  she  is  not  in  the  way  which  she 
.oughi  to  have  went.  Another  man  pays  his  addresses  to 
her;  by  no  means  calculated  to  make  her  a  suitable  com- 
panion— but  he  has  large  possessions ;  and  this  being 
^e  object  her  parejy.ts  and  friends  have  in  view,  the]''  do 


192  VIEWS    OF   MATRIMONY. 

and  say  all  they  can  to  get  her  consentahle.     But  parents 
should  remember,  that  they  can  no  more  love  for  their 
children,  than  they  can  eat  and  drink  for  iliem.    Through 
their  entreaties  sJie  is  prevailed  on  to  give  him  her  hand 
while  her  aj/cdions  are  placed  on  another.     Thus  she  - 
marries  for  the  LOVE  of  her  PARENTS— and  goes 
with  a  heavy  heart  to  the  marriage  bed.     They  have  laid 
^foundation  to  make  her  unhoppij  while  she  lives;  and 
may  I  not  say,  more  than  probable  to  procure  her  future 
misery  ?     For  how  can  she  be  happy  with  a  man  whom 
she  does  not  love  ?     "  How  can  two  walk  together  ex- 
cept they  be  agreed  ?"     Where  there  is  no  agreement, 
there  can  be  no  union,  and  where  there  is  no  union 
there  can  be  no  happiness.     As  the  parents  "are  tsot  so 
immediately  concerned  therein  as  the  child,  they  act  very 
improperly  in  over-persuading  their  child  to  marry.  For 
if  she  is  unhappy  in  such  marriage,  she  will  have  cause 
-to  refiect  on  thtm,  and  place  her  misery  to  their  account ; 
while  she  waits  for  the  hour  to  come  to  end  her  exist- 
ence, and  terminate  the  misery  Avhicii  she  feels!     Mar- 
riage v/as  intended  for  the  mutual  happiness  of  the  sex- 
es— for  the  woman  was  given  to  the  man  to  be  "  an  help 
meet  for  him."  Gen.  ii.  18.     Marriage  is  an  emblem  of 
that  union  which  subsists  between  Christ  and  his  Churchy 
Eph.  v.  32.     Solomon  saith,  "  Whoso  findeth  a  wife,  find- 
eth  a  good  thing,  and  obtaineth  favor  of  the  Lord.'' — 
Prov.   viii,  22.      Again,  "a  prudent  wife  is  from  the 
Lord,"  Prov.  xix.  14.     I  therefore  conclude  that  a  happ^ 
viarrlagc  is  the  greatest  blessing  and  consolation  which 
can  be  enjoyed  on  this  side  of  eternity,  next  to  the  love 
of  God  in  the  sout.     Of  course  an  unhappy  marriage  is 
the  greatest  curse  Avhich  is  endured  on  this  side  of  hell, 
next  to  the  HORRORS  of  a  GUILTY  CONSCIENCE. 
Quitting  this,  I  pass  on  to  obs.ervej  that  many  make 


VIEWS    OF    MATRIMONr.  193 

themselves  unhappy  afttr  marriage.  I  shall  1st.  Notice 
some  things  in  the  conduct  of  men. — 2dly.  In  the  conduct 
of  women. — 3(lly.  Point  out  some  complex  cases.  1st.  It 
frequently  happens  that  wicked  men  pay  their  addresses 
to  religious  women  ;  and  in  order  to  accomplish  their  de- 
sire, pretend  to  have  a  great  regard  for  pieiij,  promise  to 
do  all  in  their  power  to  assist  them  on  their  way  to  heav- 
en,  and  call  God  to  bear  witness  to  a  lie  that  they  -will 
be  no  hindrance  to  them,  &c.,  and  many  go  so  far  as  to 
put  on  the  outward  garh  of  religion,  that  they  may  the 
more  easily  betray  with  a  kiss !  But  shortly  after  mar- 
riage the  wolf  sheds  his  coat  and  openly  avows  his  dis- 
like to  the  ways  of  godliness,  and  either  directly  or  in- 
directly declares  that  his  wife  sJiall  not  enjoy  the  privi- 
leges of  the  gospel.  Here  the  wife  is  convinced  of  the 
insincerity  of  his  promise,  which  makes  her  doubt  the 
sincerity  of  his  affection  for  her;  the  house  becom.es  di- 
vided, and  the  foundation  of  their  future  misery  is  laid  ; 
and  it  will  be  a  mercy  of  God,  if  they  are  not  the  means 
of  peopling  the  regions  of  the  damned,  and  at  last  go 
down  to  the  chambers  of  death  together.  2dly.  Some 
men  pretend  to  respect  their  wives — the  Avife  looks  up  to 
her  husband  as  her  head  for  protection,  and  as  a  reason- 
able woman,  expects  HIM  to  redress  her  grievances. — 
But  alas  !  how  is  she  disappointed  !  For  he  approbates 
that  in  others  which  he  could  prevent  without  any  loss 
of  property,  or  character ;  and  appears  to  delight  in  her 
misery.  Instance  those  who  have  religious  wives,  and 
suffer  drinking,  swearing,  frolicking,  gambling,  kc. 
about  iheir  houses.  Is  it  not  natural  for  such  -women 
to  conclude  their  husbands  have  a  greater  regard  for 
such  wicked  beings  than  themselves.^  If  so,  how  can 
my  husband  have  that  regard  for  me  which  he  ought  to 
have  ?    And  what  becomes  of  that  scripture  which  saith 


194  VIEWS    OF    MATRl.MOxNY. 

"so  oujrht  men  to  love  their  wives  as  their  own  bodies: 
he  that  loveth  his  wife  loveth  himself,"  Eph.  v.  28. — 
Again,  Col.  iii.  19,  "Husbands  love  your  wives,  and  be 
not  bitter  against  them."  3dly.  A  great  many  men  stay 
away  from  home  unnccessaribj,  spend  their  time  in  drink- 
ing, &c.,  expending  their  money  in  the  taverns,  which 
ought  to  go  to  the  support  of  their  families,  while  their 
wives  have  not  the  necessaries  of  life,  and  are  laboring 
night  and  day  to  keep  their  children  from  starving. — 
Thus  many  families  are  brought  to  disgrace  and  misery 
by  the  wickedness  of  husbands.  But  one  is  ready  to 
say,  I  provide  well  for  my  family;  and  am  I  not  at  lib- 
erty to  go  and  come  when  I  please?  Yes,  as  far  as  is 
expedient,  but  no  farther,  if  you  do  not  wish  io  forfeit  your 
wife's  confidence.  I  ask,  what  must  be  the  feelings  of  a 
woman  left  in  such  a  case,  when  she  knows  her  husband 
lias  no  lawful  business  to  detain  him  from  home  ?  What 
conclusion  can  she  more  rationally  draw  than  this :  My 
company  is  disagreeable  to  him,  therefore  he  is  deter- 
mined to  have  as  little  of  it  as  possible.  The  society  of 
others  is  more  pleasing  to  him  than  that  of  his  family  ; 
therefore  he  seeks  pleasure  abroad  ?  Here  grounds  are 
given  for  her  to  suspect  his  virtue  ;  and  it  is  very  com- 
mon for  women  to  think  such  men  have  their  misses  from 
home,  which  is  too  OFTEN  the  case.  Reflect  for  a 
moment  what  must  be  the  sensations  of  a  delicate  ivomaUy 
to  hear  that  her  hosom  friend  lies  intoxicated  among  the 
SWINE  in  the  streets.  I  am  certain  from  observation 
that  no  woman  can  be  happy  with  o-drunlxn  man  ;  there- 
fore I  am  bold  to  say  wherever  you  see  such  a  thing, 
you  see  an  u>^happy  family — and  except  such  persons 
repent  and  get  forgiveness,  they  will  assuredly  be  dam- 
ned, however  rich,  honorable,  and  M'ise  they  may  be.— • 
For  St.  Paul  ranks  drunkenness  among  the  works  of  tho 


VIEWS    OF    MATRIMO^'Y.  195 

fiesli,  and  positively  declares,  "they  who  do  such  things 
shall  not  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God,"^^  Gal.  v.  There- 
fore I  would  advise  all  you.xg  LADIES,  if  they  wish  to 
be  happy  in  time  or  dcrniti/,  to  avoid  such  young  men  as 
hanker  about  the  taverns,  and  have  not  respect  enough 
for  their  own  characters  to  raise  them  above  a  level  with 
ihe  beasts!  For  beasts  do  not  get  drunk.  They  who 
get  drunk  when  young,  are  apt  to  be  sots  when  old.: — 
Moreover,  a  great  many  sins  flow  from  that  of  drunken- 
ness, a  few  of  which  I  shall  here  mention.  1st.  It  brings 
on  disorders  to  their  destructio'n,  which,  2d,  prevent  their 
usefulness  as  worthy  members  in  society,  od.  Shortens 
their  days,  which  is  a  species  of  murder,  the  most  hein- 
ous of  all  crimes.  4th,  A  bad  example  before  others.— 
5th,  Procures  a  family  scandal.  6th,  His  money  is  laid 
out  for  that  which  is  worse  than  if  thrown  into  the  fire ; 
which,  7th,  Prevents  his  usefulness  as  a  charitable  man. 
8lh,  Is  a  breach  of  God's  law.  9th,  Quenches  the  Di- 
vine Spirit.  lOth,  Exposes  his  family  to  want.  11th, 
Liable  to  bring  a  burthen  on  the  country.  12th,  De- 
prives him  of  the  power  of  reason  ;  which,  13th,  Makes 
him  liable  to  injure  his  friends  and  commit  every  horrid 
depredation.  And  such  men  as  will  get  drunk  and  then 
abuse  their  wives,  do  not  deserve  the  name  of  men,  for 
they  have  not  the  principle  of  men,  but  may  be  called 
the  devil's  swill-tub  walking  upright ;  and  such  deserve 
a  dose  of  eel  tea,  i.  e.  spirituous  liquor  in  which  a  living 
eel  has  been  slimed.  4thly.  THEUE  are  men  who 
break  the  contract  by  defding  the  marriage  bed — but 
this  is  thought  to  be  no  scandal  by  many  who  ar6  guil- 
ty. Now  take  notice,  a  msin  o(  good  principles  ih'mlis  as 
much  of  his  word  as  his  oath,  therefore  will  be  true  to 
his  engageraents,  and  will  fulfil  that  promise  made  before 
witnesses^  "to  forsake  all  other  women,  and  keep  to  hia 


106  VIEWS    OF    MATRIMONY. 

wife  only,  so  long  as  they  both  shall  live,  to  live  with 
her  aflcM-  God's  holy  ordinance."  Now  I  ask,  is  ADUL- 
TfjRY  God's  ordinance  ?  No,  for  he  forbids  adultery, 
Exod.  XX.  14.  HE  who  breaks  his  most  sacred  engage- 
r)ients  is  not  to  be  confided  in.  Matrimonial  engagements 
are  the  most  sacred — therefore  he  who  breaks  his  mat- 
rimonial engagements  is  not  to  be  confided  in.  5thiy, 
Some  men  have  an  unhappy  temper  ;  are  morose  and  pee- 
vish— and  though  their  wives  do  all  they  can,  or  as  they 
may,  it  is  impossible  to  please  them.  They  are  easily 
angered,  view  a  mote  until  it  looks  as  large  as  a  moun- 
tain ;  one  word  brings  on  another,  at  length  they  proceed 
from  words  to  blows,  until  they  become  so  largo  that 
one  bed  cannot  hold  them  both.  Many  of  our  eyes  and 
ears  liave  been  witness  to  this  shameful  conduct ;  the 
jarring  string  of  discord  runs  through  all  the  family  ; 
they  live  like  devils  incarnate  ;  and  if  a  person  happens 
to  be  in  the  family  who  has  never  been  used  to  such 
conduct,  would  he  not  be  almost  led  to  think  he  had  got- 
ten into  the  territories  of  the  damned  ?  What  is  here 
said  of  the  man,  is  applicable  to  a  great  many  women. 
(C/^  A  wounded  bird  will  flutter.  There  are  too  many 
causes  for  me  to  cite  under  this  head.  I  leave  your 
minds  to  take  them  in  while  I  pass  on  to  the  next  thing 
under  consideration,  which  was  to  notice  somethings  in 
the  conduct  of  women,  which  make  unhappy  marriages. 
God  has  placed  the  man  as  governor  in  the  family,  and 
he  is  styled  "the  head  of  the  v/oman,"  Eph.  v.  23.  Now 
there  are  some  women,  thougli  they  promise  to  "  live 
after  God''s  ordinance,"  are  not  willing  to  do  it,  but  wish 
to  be  head  themselves;  (according  to  the  vulgar  saying, 
put  the  petticoat  on  the  man,  and  wear  the  breeches  them- 
selves) claiming  SUPERIOR  EQUALITY— whatever 
is  to  be  done,  they  must  give  directions — the  man  durst 


VIEV/S    OF    3IATRI?.rO>fY.  117 

not  bargain  without  leave,  and  if  he  does,  his  wife's 
tongue  runs  as  though  it  would  never  stop.  What  does 
it  argue?  It  argues  GREAT  straiglit  T,  and  little 
crooked  u — that  the  woman  thinks  herself  possessed  of 
gi'eat  ivisdom,  and  her  husband  ignorant  in  the  extreme  ; 
and  sets  ]]im  aside  as  a  7nc)'e  cypher.  But  so  far  is  this 
from  being  a  trait  of  wisdom,  that  it  proves  the  reverse ; 
for  a  wise  woman  will  reverence  and  obey  Jier  husband, 
according  to  Eph.  v.  '^2,  23.  1  Pet.  iii.  1.  Moreover  it 
argues  self-importance,  to  see  people  climbing  to  the  high 
seat  of  poiver  where  they  have  no  business,  {[r^  Self- 
importance  flows  from  ignorance.  If  the  rnan  is  a  man 
of  sense  and  spirit,  he  is  not  willing  to  give  up  that 
which  properly  belongs  to  him,  viz.  the  rein  of  govern- 
ment, of  course  the  contest  which  begins  in  words  fre- 
quently ends  in  blows.  Thus  many  women  by  assuming 
to  themselves  a  prerogative  which  does  not  belong  to 
them,  make  UNHAPPY  FAMILIES.  Women  by  in- 
dulging a  mean  opinion  of  their  husbands,  become 
ashamed  o^thtm;  but  this  can  happen  in  no  case  where 
there  is  not  a  loant  of  irformcdion  and  judgement.  If 
you  stoop  in  marryins:  him,  do  not  indulge  the  thought 
that  you  added  to  his  respectahility ;  never  tell  him  "  you 
lifted  him  out  of  the  ashes,"  for  it  will  be  hard  for  you 
to  extricate  yourself  from  this  difficulty.  "  If  you  stoop- 
ed of  necessity  because  you  could  get  no  one  else,  the 
obligation  is  on  your  own  side.  And  if  you  could  get  a 
better  companion,  why  did  you  marry  him  .'  If  you  stoop- 
ed of  choice,  who  ought  to  be  blamed  but  yourself.^  Be- 
sides, it  will  be  well  to  remember  when  you  became  his 
•wife  he  became  your  head,  and  your  supposed  superiority 
-was  buried  in  that  voluntary  act."  2d.  There  are  many 
young  women,  who  in  order  to  man-y  ivell,  appear  very 
mild,  very  affectionate  and  very  decent  in  their  persons-. 


4 


198  VIEWS    OK    MATRIMOKT. 

houses,  &c.,  (frequently  us'w.g  an  air  of  affectation,  and 
speaking  with  faltering  voices.)  Some  young-  oentle- 
man  wishing  to  get  a  co!npanion  of  this  description,  of- 
fers his  hand  to  one  of  these  ^^jackJaics  dressed  in  pe«^- 
cock feathers''' — the  nuptials  are  celebrated,  her  wishes 
are  answered,  the  cloak  is  laid  aside  and  she  soon  ap- 
pears whc.t  slie  is  in  reaJiijj.  The  innocency  of  the  Iamb 
is  lost  in  the  fierceness  of  the  lion ;  the  afiection  of  the 
dove  in  the  cruelty  of  the  ostrich  ;  and  the  cleanliness  of 
the  sheep  in  the  filthiness  of  the  swine,  TJiese  properties 
are  had  in  the  abstract,  but  far  tvorse  when  th^y  meet  to- 
gether.— Filthiness  is  the  fruit  of  laziness.  Go  to  the 
house  where  a  lazy  ivomaiihe^rs  rule  ;  examine  the  floor, 
the  furniture,  the  bedding,  the  linen,  the  children,  and 
last  of  all  herself  and  see  what  an  agreement  throughout 
the  whole — every  thing  is  out  of  fix;  and  if  she  is  a  pro- 
fessor of  religion,  you  may,  Vv'ithont  erring  far,  form  a 
rational  judgment  of  the  state  of  her  soul,  from  the  ap- 
pearance of  her  body.  Laziness  is  inconsistent  with 
the  gospel  of  Christ,  and  with  the  spirit  of  Christianity  ; 
for  St.  Paul  told  the  Thessalonians  to  note  such  "a  man, 
and  have  no  company  with  him,  that  he  may  be  asham- 
ed," 2  Thess.  iii.  14. — Moreover,  a  lazy  Christian  is  as 
great  a  solecism  as  an  honest  thief  a  sober  drunkard,  a 
chaste  harlot,  or  a  holy  devil.  But  it  may  be  asked — 
what  are  the  evils  which  accrue  from  dirty  houses,  &c. 
I  answer,  ist.  If  a  gentleman  or  lady  visits  you,  they 
have  no  appetite  to  eat  or  drink  in  your  houses ;  and 
what  are  your  feelings  when  you  are  certain  of  the  cause  ? 
2d.  They  can  have  no  satisfaction  in  your  beds,  rhey 
smell  so  offensive,  and  are  so  infested  with  hungry  night 
walJ^ers,  which  thirst  for  liuman  blood.  3d.  The  very 
disngretahleness  of  the  air,  causes  them  to  wish  to  make 
their  escape,  lest  they  should  be  seized  with  putrid  or 


VIEWS    OF    MATRIMOi^TY.  199 

malignant  fevers,  Avhich  might  terminate  in  death.  4th. 
Many  diseases  orig-inate  therefrom,  which  are  productive 
of  the  most  fatal  consequences  to  the  family.  5th. 
Thereby  you  transmit  a  curse  to  your  children  ;  for  tiie 
children  in  common,  pattern  after  their  parents — and  as 
they  d(»  with  you,  so  will  they  do  when  they  get  to  them- 
selves. Therefore  says  one,  "Take  care  of  the  breed." 
There  is  no  excuse  sufficient  to  justify  those  who  are 
able  to  work  and  live  in  dirt,  where  water  is  plenty,  and 
may  be  had  for  nothing.  Therefore  I  would  advise. all 
persons  who  value  their  health,  to  sLun  such  places  as 
they  would  a  city  where  the  plague  is  in  full  rage. — • 
Now  if  a  man  is  thus  taken  in,  how  can  he  be  happy, 
provided  he  has  never  been  accustomed  so  to  live  ?-  A  nd 
if  he  has,  by  seeking  a  v/oman  from  whom  he  expected 
better  things,  he  clearly  evinces  his  dissatisfaction  in  that 
manner  of  life.  But  finding  out  the  deception,  he  has 
no  heart  to  work  ;  takes  to  drink  to  drown  his  sorrow ; 
here  wc  behold  another  cause  of  family  misery,  or  un- 
happy marriages. — Quitting  this,  I  pass  on  to  the  third 
thing  under  consideration.  In  which  I  am  to  point  oAt 
some  complex  cases,  in  which  either  party  may  be  guilty. 
And  1st.  That  odious  practice  of  talking  about  each 
other  behind  their  back,  and  endeavoring  to  expose  each 
other's  faults  to  the  ivorld.  If  they  are  one  flesh,  he  tiiat 
exposes  his  ivife,  exposes  himself  also.  How  then  can 
the  family  be  respectable  ?  This  comes  to  her  ears,  and 
she  ieels  disposed  to  retaliate,  and  presently  the  whole 
neighborhood  is  filled  with  things  v/hich  ought  never  to 
have  been  known,  only  by  themselves. — Men  and  wo- 
men both  have  their  foibles ;  therefore  ought  to  look  over 
each  other'' s  faults,  and  put  the  best  construction  possible 
on  each  other's  conduct,  and  exercise  that  charity  wbicli 
thinketh  no  evil.     Therefore  should  never  unnecessarily 


200  VIEWS    OF    MATRIMONY. 

expose  each  other's  faults,but  support  each  other's  char- 
acter as  fur  as  truth  and  propriety  will  admit.  St.  James 
saith,  "the  tongue  is  full  of  deadly  poison,  and  sets  on 
fire  the  course  of  nature."  Need  we  wonder  then  if  it 
sets  on  fire  ivhole  families  where  it  is  not  curbed?  2d. 
Sometimes  it  is  the  case  that  one  of  them  has  been  mar- 
ried before.  Fll  say  the  ivoman.  Her  present  husband 
treats  her  well,  but  if  at  any  time  she  gets  crossed,  she 
cries  out :  ah,  I  once  had  a  husband,  he  did  not  treat  me 
as  you  do;  there  never  was  such  a  man  as  he  was,  but 
he  is  gone  now."  And  as  apt  as  not  tell  fifty  lies  about 
his  goodness  before  she  stops:  and  more  than  likely  her 
present  husband  is  better  than  the  first  ever  was.  Now 
it  is  very  certain  that  this  makes  a  bad  impression  on 
the  mind,  and  if  it  is  not  done  purposely  to  hurt  feelings, 
the  best  apology  which  can  be  made  for  such  conduct  is 
weakness  or  ignorance. — Whatever  women  or  men  think 
in  such  cases,  if  they  value  their  peace,  they  should 
keep  their  thoughts  in  their  own  breasts.  For  a  small 
needle  may  occasion  a  great  deal  of  pain  if  stuck  in  the 
lieart.  And  "behold!  how  great  a  matter  a  little  fire 
kindleth."  Such  a  line  of  conduct  as  the  above,  cannot 
but  chill  the  affection''o^  your  companion  towards  you  : 
of  course,  as  he  esteems  or  disesteems  you,  so  his  treat- 
ment towards  you  will  be. 

3d.  There  are  instances  of  one  or  the  other's  having 
a  parent  or  child  who  comes  to  live  in  the  family  ;  the 
other  treats  \\ie  person  ill;  this  touches  in  a  very  tender 
part;  feelings  are  hurt;  at  length  it  is  productive  o^ hud 
consequences,  the  evil  seed  is  sown,  it  springs  up,  it  be- 
comes a  great  tree,  it  bears  abundance  of  fruit,  and 
yieMs  a  never  ending  crop  of  misery.  4th.  JEALOUSY 
which  is  sometimes  founded  in  truth,  and  sometimes  in 
error.    However,  jealousy  is  such,  properly  or  improper- 


VIEWS    OF    MATRIMO>'r.  901 

ly  founded ;  and  where  it  takes  place,  all  conjugal  af- 
fections are  destroyed;  for  conlidence  once  lost  can 
Jmrdly  ever  he  regained. 

^^t.  I  would  advise  all  YOUNG  PEOPLE,  male  and 
female,  to  get  religion;  by  which  you  will  be  better 
QUALIFIED  to  do  your  duty  to  your  GOD  and  YOUR- 
SELVES, being  under  the  influence  of  DIVINE 
Gil  ACE  ;  if  you  keep  an  eye  svngh  to  the  GLORY  OF 
GOD,  you  may  have  a  guide  to  direct  you  to  a  person, 
such  as  will  make  you  a  partner,  who  will  be  willing  to 
share  with  you  in  all  your  soirows.  Do  not  look  so  much 
B-t  property  nor  beauty  as  good  sense,  virtue,  and  PIETY. 
AVOID  as  much  as  possible  the  company  of  such  as  are 
not  afraid  to  sin  themselves ;  knowing  that  if  it  is  in 
tbeir  power,  they  v/ill  lead  you  into  that  gulph  of  iniqui- 
ty which  has  swallowed  up  thousands, — "evil  commu- 
nications corrupt  good  manners:"  (or  rather  GOOD 
MOP»,ALS,  as  is  intended)  and  a  compar.ion  of  fools 
shall  be  destroyed.  Get  a  person  who  will  love  you  from 
a  SENSE  OF  DUTY  to  God.  This  foundation,  if 
beauty  and  fortune  fail,  standeth  sure ;  and  then  you  need 
not  fear  that  such  a  companion  will  desert  you  in  the  day 
of  trouble.  If  you  both  LOVE  GOD,  it  will  be  impos- 
sihle  for  you  not  to  love  each  other.  This  being  the  case, 
you  may  always  have  a  paradise  at  home,  and  be  more 
happy  in  each  other's  company,  than  with  any  other  per- 
son beneath  the  canopy  of  Haaven.  As  many  of  our 
young  friends  have  been  called  from  time  to  eternity 
before  they  had  time  to  settle  themselves  in  the  world, 
it  ought  to  be  a  warning  to  you  not  to  put  off  your  re- 
turn to  God  until  you  get  married ;  for  before  that  time 
£omcs  you  may  be  numbered  with  the  dead,  and  lie  down 
Letween  the  clods  of  the  valley  ;  and  if  without  religion 
jou  are  cut  off  in  the  bloom  of  youth,  how  soon  will  all 
13 


202  VIEWS    OF    MATRIMO?fT. 

your  earthly  joys  come  to  an  end,  and  an  eternity  o< 
misery  commence!  But  if  you  get  and  keep  religion? 
■whether  you  marry  or  not,  it  shall  be  well  with  you.  If 
you  marry  such  a  person  as  I  advise,  when  your  com- 
panion dies  you  may  have  a  well  grounded  hope,  that 
the  ever-faithful  companion  of  all  your  cares  is  gone  to 
rest  in  "  Abraham's  bosom ;"  and  after  serving  God  to- 
gether in  time,  you  may  spend  an  eternity  of  pleasure 
together  in  praising  God  and  the  Lamb. 

2d.  I  would  advise  such  as  have  companions,  to  con- 
sult each  other's  happiness,  both  as  it  relates  to  time  and 
eternity.  As  husbands,  love  your  wives  ;  and  as  wives, 
see  that  you  reverence  your  husbands ;  try  and  find  out 
each  other's  dispositions,  consider  your  own  weakness^ 
and  think  not  anything  too  hard  to  be  done  by  you  to 
render  each  other  happy,  (save  the  giving,  up  of  your 
conscience.)  If  heaven  has  blessed  you  with  a  good 
companion,  esteem  it  as  the  greatest  temporal  blessing 
which  can  be  enjoyed,  and  be  very  careful  not  to  abuse 
so  good  a  gift ;  remember  that  eternal  things  are  con- 
nected therewith,  and  if  you  misuse  your  companion 
you  will  have  to  render  an  account  to  God  for  the  same  ; 
for  "God  will  bring  every  work  into  judgment,  with  ev- 
ery secret  thing,  whether  it  be  good,  or  whether  it  be 
evil." 

If  you  have  a  bad  companion,  you  made  your  own 
contract,  or  at  least  consented  thereunto  ;  therefore  make 
the  best  you  can  of  a  bad  bargain ;  and  avoid  every 
measure,  as  far  as  possible  (to  answer  it  in  the  eternal 
World)  which  might  tend  to  make  yon  more  unhappy.  If 
you  have  religion,  umlk  with  Zacharias  and  Elizabeth 
in  all  the  ways  of  God  blameless.  If  you  have  no  relig- 
ion, your  own  consciences  testify  that  all  is  not  well 
with  you,  and  God  himself  is  witness  to  the  many  prom- 


VIEWS    OF    MATRIMONY.  203 

ises  you  have  broken;  therefore  it  is  high  time  for  you 
to  begin  to  think  more  seriously  on  your  latter  end,  for 
many  of  you  are  past  the  meridian  of  life ;  your  sun  is 
going  down  in  death  ;  others  hover  around  the  shores  of 
time — but  one  step  between  ?/ow  and  the  bar  of  God! 
With  others  the  sun  of  life  will  go  down  at  noon — eter- 
nal things  depend  upon  life's  feeble  strings! — Heaven 
lost,  is  lost  forever  I  Careless  man ! — Prayerless  woman! 
Why  will  you  die  ?  Are  you  greedy  of  eternal  pain? 
^;:.rWhat  harm  did  God  ever  do,  that  you  are  determined 
Hot  to  be  reconciled  to  him  ?  Are  you  so  in  love  with 
sin,  that  you  will  risk  the  loss  of  Heaven, — and  the 
torment  of  Hell  for  a  momentary  enjoyment?  O!  be 
wise — seek  salvation — fly  from  the  gatherin^X  -orm 
Believe  in  Jesus  Christ,  and  thou  wilt  be  save  a.  So 
shall  you  enjoy  peace  in  life,  tranquility  in  death,  and 
crowns  of  victory  in  eternity.  Serious  consideration  is 
the  Jirst  step  in  matters  of  religion,  with  a  fixed  resolu- 
tion to  avoid  whatever  you  discern  to  be  wrong.  Having 
your  mind  in  a  studious  frame  of  inquiry  after  God's 
will,  to  do  it  Never  lie  down  to  rest  without  commit- 
ting yourself  into  the  protection  of  kind  Providence — 
and  as  you  awake  give  thanks  to  the  hand  that  has  kept 
you  :  thus  begin — spend  and  close  every  day  with  God 
— then  he  will  be  thy  Father  and  thy  Friend  in  Jesus 

Ch  rist. Amen. 

J*'0.-t  evils  prevalent  in  society  have  their  origin  from 
the  liitluence  of  example,  by  which  children  are  contam- 
inated, and  the  seeds  are  sown  in  the  prejudice  of  their 
educai.ion,  to  the  great  injury  of  themselves  and  others, 
beyond  any  possible  calculation  ! 

The  poor  opinion  which  mankind  entertain  of  each 
other,  and  the  little  conjidence  they  are  pleased  to  place 
in    strangers,  as  well  as  acquaintance,  exemplify  the 


204  VIEWS    OF    MATRIMO:XT. 

truth  :  which  shews  the  corruption  of  their  very  raising-. 
For  example ;  the  two  first  things  generally  learnt  to 
children  in  their  infancy,  is  to.  be  deceitful  and  lie.  The 
mother  is  going  out,  the  child  cries  to  go  too  ;  the  mother 
promises  to  bring  the  '■'' pretties,^''  with  no  intention  to  per- 
form ;  the  child  is  deceived  and  disappointed,  and  con- 
fidence is  forfeited.  "  I  will  whip,  &c.,  &.c.,  if  you  donH 
hush," — but  the  child  is  not  influenced,  knowing  the 
scare  crow. 

Thus  being  learnt  to  deceive  and  Zte,  he  becomes  ex- 
pert at  the  trade,  and  then  must  be  ivhipt  for  the  very 
thing  the  parents  have  taught  him — whereas  if  the 
example  had  been  good,  and  all  foolish,  wicked,  evii 
improprieties  were  discountenanced  by  a  proper  line  of 
conduct,  then  a  blessing  would  be  transmitted  to  pos- 
terity according  to  the  pi-omise,  and  as  exemplified  by 
Jibraham. 


M0 


DUE  DATE 


j,v^-,>  crp  -^ 


201-6503 


Printed 
in  USA 


958.69 


COLUMBIA     UNIVERSITY     LIBRARIES 


I 


III mil iiiiMiiiiiiiiiii II 

0  1 139  30  168- 


■UTLCR  STACKS 


BOUND 


